Belarus President: ‘Why Do We Speak of the Holocaust’ After Gaza Was ‘Wiped off the Face of the Earth’?

Western governments and human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized Lukashenko’s administration.

By Shula Rosen

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accused Israel of committing a genocide in Gaza and questioned references to the Holocaust during an interview with Al Arabiya English, while also arguing that Israel’s security and military actions depend heavily on support from the United States.

Speaking to Al Arabiya English, Lukashenko said Israel’s military campaign in Gaza had harmed the country’s international image and drew comparisons to the Holocaust.

“They already have a bad reputation in the world because of the bombing of Gaza,” Lukashenko said. “It is a Holocaust. Why do we speak about the Holocaust suffered by the Israelis? While they themselves have killed so many people, women and above all children have died in the Gaza Strip.”

Lukashenko also said Gaza had been “wiped off the face of the earth” and criticized what he described as plans to build a resort on territory where people had been killed.

“Israel has to start thinking about its future because otherwise even nuclear weapons will not help them,” he said.

The Belarusian leader further argued that Washington has the ability to stop Israeli military operations if it chooses to do so. He said Israel is dependent on American political and military backing and cited comments he attributed to President Donald Trump concerning the country’s reliance on U.S. support.

Lukashenko maintained that the United States possesses significant leverage over Israel and suggested that Israeli actions are closely linked to continued American assistance.

Belarus has been led by Lukashenko since 1994. Western governments and human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized his administration over allegations of political repression, including the imprisonment of opposition figures and restrictions on independent media.

His 2020 re-election was widely contested and sparked large-scale demonstrations that authorities dispersed through mass detentions and a broad security crackdown.

The comments were part of a broader interview with Al Arabiya English in which Lukashenko discussed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the country’s international standing and the role of the United States in supporting its security and defense capabilities.