The Foreign Ministry of Israel announced that it was downgrading Israel’s ties with Brazil, saying that the South American country had refused to approve the credentials of Jerusalem’s nominee to serve as ambassador to Brasilia.

Axar.az informs, citing Times of Israel, “After Brazil, unusually, refrained from replying to Ambassador [Gali] Dagan’s request for agrément, Israel withdrew the request, and relations between the countries are now being conducted at a lower diplomatic level,” read a statement from the ministry.

The ministry also noted that the “critical and hostile line that Brazil has displayed toward Israel” since the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, “was intensified” by remarks from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva last year.

Israel declared Lula a “persona non grata,” after he accused Jerusalem of “genocide” in Gaza, saying the only historical parallel was “when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”

“The Foreign Ministry continues to maintain deep ties with Israel’s many circles of friends in Brazil,” the statement added.

Brazil recalled its ambassador to Israel last year and has yet to appoint a replacement.