Lula’s victory is more than an election result; it marks the continuation of a voice that has dared to speak for Palestine on the world stage.
As Palestinians endure Israel’s genocide in Gaza, his re-election offers the possibility of continued solidarity from a leader who has condemned their suffering and defended their right to freedom and self-determination.
While this victory does not end the occupation or bring justice on its own, it keeps Palestine’s struggle in the international conversation.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited Ofer Prison as part of his election campaign, publicly showcasing the restrictions imposed on Palestinian detainees.
In footage shared on social media, Ben Gvir highlighted measures tightening prison conditions and further restricting detainees’ basic rights.
His visit comes as he seeks to promote his hardline agenda, presenting harsher treatment of Palestinian detainees as an electoral achievement to appeal to his far-right voter base.
666 Days Since Israel Abducted Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya
For more than 666 days, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the Palestinian paediatrician and former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, has remained in Israeli detention.
He became a symbol of the determination of Gaza’s medical staff, continuing his work amid Israel’s attacks on the healthcare system before his abduction on 27 December 2024.
For 666 days, a doctor who refused to abandon his patients has been held in Israeli detention without charge or trial.
Dr. Abu Safiya remained at Kamal Adwan Hospital amid Israel’s attacks and severe shortages of medical supplies, treating patients as Gaza’s healthcare system came under devastating pressure.
Human rights organisations have called for his release, raising alarm over reports of abuse, solitary confinement and denial of adequate medical care.