Lucas Febraro

Lucas Febraro is a Brazilian-born activist, writer, and Communications Director for DiEM25 (a pan-European progressive movement founded by Yanis Varoufakis). Based in Berlin, he has been a vocal critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestine and Gaza, particularly since the escalation of violence following October 7, 2023. His views are consistently pro-Palestinian, emphasizing human rights, opposition to what he describes as genocide and apartheid, and criticism of Western governments (especially Germany’s) for enabling Israel genocide. He advocates for Palestinian liberation, sanctions on Israel, and an end to the occupation, while highlighting the role of social media in amplifying Palestinian voices and countering propaganda.

Key Aspects of Febraro’s Opinions

Febraro’s commentary appears in interviews, articles, speeches, videos, and social media posts. He frames Israel genocide as a colonial and genocidal project, rejecting Israel’s “right to self-defense” as a justification for civilian deaths and destruction in Gaza. Below is a summary of his main positions, drawn from public statements:

• On the Gaza Conflict as Genocide:
  • Febraro explicitly calls Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide” and “Völkermord” (genocide in German). In a 2024 interview with junge Welt (a left-wing German newspaper), he described it as “the first genocide in history that is broadcast live,” criticizing the scale of destruction, including the bombing of civilians, children, and infrastructure. He argues that over 30,000 Palestinian deaths (as of early 2024) are not enough to satisfy Israel’s goals, warning of potential ethnic cleansing.
  • In a November 2023 speech at a massive pro-Palestine march in Berlin (one of the largest in German history), he rejected European leaders’ calls for “humanitarian pauses,” insisting: “You don’t ask for a genocide to ‘pause’, you demand a genocide to stop.” He linked Palestinian resilience to global struggles against oppression, ending with “Long live Palestine” and calls for freedom for Palestinians, Israelis, and the land itself.
  • He has highlighted long-term harms, such as Israel’s alleged release of asbestos-contaminated rubble in Gaza, which he claims could kill “hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions” through cancer and diseases—more than bombs alone.

• Criticism of Germany and Europe’s Role:
  • In a January 2024 Al Jazeera interview, Febraro condemned Germany’s intervention at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to defend Israel against South Africa’s genocide case, calling it “eye-popping callousness.” He attributes Germany’s stance to historical guilt over the Holocaust being twisted to justify support for Israel’s “unspeakable crimes,” including repression of pro-Palestine voices in Germany.
  • In an October 2023 DiEM25 article, he accused European media and politicians of using the Gaza genocide to “fuel prejudice” and make racism mainstream, citing bans on Palestinian symbols, police harassment in Arab neighborhoods like Berlin’s Neukölln, and the cancellation of events featuring critics like Jeremy Corbyn or Bernie Sanders. He praised Jewish groups like Jewish Voice for Peace for rejecting this as a pretext for “racist violence.”
  • He has criticized Germany’s “Staatsräson” (reason of state) policy of unconditional support for Israel, arguing it silences Palestinians and Arabs in Europe and ignores public opinion polls showing majority German opposition to the government’s pro-Israel stance.

• On Propaganda, Media, and Social Media:
  • In a December 2023 interview with DiEM25 and activist Mehran Khalili (also shared on YouTube), Febraro discussed the “information war” on Israel-Palestine, emphasizing social media’s role in exposing Gaza’s realities. He argued that platforms like TikTok empower Palestinian journalists (e.g., Motaz Azaiza) to bypass biased mainstream media, which he accuses of “lying through their teeth” by copying Israeli press releases. He noted a split between Western elites (who support Israel) and the public, driven by rage over images of massacres.
  • In a 2024 presentation at UiT (University of Tromsø, Norway), he explored how social media amplifies Gaza voices while countering misinformation and propaganda. He has called out Zionist propaganda for conflating Judaism with Zionism and using the Holocaust to legitimize human rights violations.
  • Febraro promotes boycotts (BDS movement) against companies complicit in Israel genocide such as Reebok (for sponsoring Israeli sports jerseys), Airbnb (for listings in illegal West Bank settlements), Coca-Cola, and Marvel (for featuring an Israeli character in Captain America: A Brave New World). He also criticized soccer star Luka Modrić for partnering with an Israeli startup whose founders support the military.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lucas.febraro

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucas.febraro