'It is killing women and children': Brazil's Lula slams Israel

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva said on Thursday that the United Nations has failed to resolve international conflicts and harshly criticised Israeli actions in Gaza.

"Israel's behaviour has no explanation: with the pretext of fighting Hamas, it is killing women and children," he said after a meeting in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Speaking later to the Arab League, Lula said Brazil had condemned the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on 7 October, but he added that Israel's response was "disproportional and indiscriminate" and unacceptable.

Lula said there would not be peace without the establishment of a Palestinian state and called for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"The killing must be stopped," he said.

The Brazilian leader said Palestine should be recognised as a sovereign state and admitted to the United Nations as a full member, and he called for reform of the UN Security Council.

"The multilateral institutions that were created to help solve these problems do not work, which is why Brazil is committed to making the necessary changes in global governance bodies, and we hope to count on Egypt's support," he said to reporters alongside Sisi.

Lula said the permanent five members of the Security Council should be expanded and their veto powers abolished. "It is the permanent members of the Security Council that foment wars," he said.

Reporting by Reuters