Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said Israel is committing the “equivalent of terrorism” in Gaza by killing innocent women and children in its military campaign on Hamas, AFP reports.

The veteran leftist had previously condemned as a “terrorist attack” the October 7 assault on Israel by the Palestinian group.

But the leader of Latin America’s biggest country said the group’s actions do not justify Israel’s military response in Gaza, where more than 11,200 people, also mostly civilians, have been killed, according to health officials.

“Israel’s attitude toward children, toward women, is the equivalent of terrorism. There’s no other way to put it,” Lula said in his weekly social media address.