Activists’ Gaza Memorial in Brazil Masks Harsh Realities of Terror and Self-Defense

On Brazil’s iconic Copacabana Beach, activists erected a symbolic “cemetery” with pictures of children killed during the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. While the display evokes sympathy, it dangerously distorts the facts by equating victims of terrorist attacks with casualties of Israel’s defensive operations.

The NGO behind this act, Río da Paz, planted stakes bearing faces and names of children who perished both in Hamas’s October 7 terrorist assaults and Israeli military actions. Surrounding these stakes with barbed wire seeks to dramatize suffering but conveniently omits context: Hamas deliberately uses civilians as human shields and launches attacks from densely populated areas.

Who Are the True Victims—and What Is Ignored?

Antonio Carlos Costa, founder of Río da Paz, decries “barbaric crimes” without acknowledging that innocent Israeli families live under constant threat from indiscriminate rocket fire launched by Hamas militants. The tragic deaths cannot be viewed in isolation or as equal when one side initiates unprovoked terror and the other defends its national sovereignty.

This narrative is echoed by political actors aligned with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s leftist Workers’ Party—some participating in flotillas attempting to break Gaza’s legitimate blockade imposed for security reasons. Such stances prioritize globalist sympathies over America First values that emphasize secure borders, law enforcement, and protecting citizens against external hostility.

Why Does This Matter to America?

As U.S. officials push for ceasefires and peace negotiations recognizing Israel’s right to exist free from terror attacks, displays like this muddy public understanding abroad and contribute indirectly to pressures on America’s closest Middle East ally. They feed international narratives hostile to democracy and freedom—ideas Americans cherish deeply.

The conflict has claimed over 66,000 lives in Gaza alone—many tragic civilian casualties due to Hamas’s reckless tactics. Recognizing this reality is essential if we are serious about addressing root causes rather than simply condemning responses designed to protect innocent lives.

Washington must remain firm in supporting Israel’s sovereignty while encouraging genuine peace efforts that exclude terror groups masquerading as defenders of freedom. Otherwise, how long will misguided activism abroad continue to undermine allies defending liberty where it matters most?