"Children must never be held hostage, anywhere in the world," Lula wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Hamas needs to free the Israeli children who were kidnapped from their families. Israel needs to stop its bombing so Palestinian children and their mothers can leave the Gaza strip via the Egyptian border," he said.

"There needs to be a minimum of humanity in the insanity of war."

Lula said Brazil would use the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, which it currently holds, to promote efforts for an "immediate and definitive" end to the conflict, which erupted Saturday when Hamas militants stormed through the Gaza security barrier in a devastating onslaught.

Around 150 Israeli residents, including civilians, children and women as well as foreign nationals, are believed to be held by Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Authorities in Brasilia say two Brazilians, a man and a woman, have been killed in the violence in Israel, which Lula condemned Saturday as "terrorist attacks against civilians."

A Brazilian air force plane that evacuated a first group of 211 Brazilian nationals from Israel landed early Wednesday in the capital.

"It was a huge relief to leave. All the flights were being canceled. We didn't think we'd be able to get out," passenger Laisa Matos told AFP on arrival in Brasilia, as dozens of emotional relatives welcomed their loved ones.

A second flight carrying 210 Brazilians is due to depart Tel Aviv later Wednesday.

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