In a joint statement, the leaders of BRICS pushed for “an independent and viable State of Palestine, under the internationally recognized borders of June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side in peace and security with Israel.”
They also drew attention to the humanitarian crisis taking place in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In defiance of a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel continues its deadly offensive on Gaza. So far, nearly 43,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 100,000 have been wounded, many of which are children, women and elderly people. A further 11,000 are unaccounted for and presumed dead.
The Gaza Strip is also experiencing acute famine, which is taking even more lives, especially children, while nearly 2 million people have been displaced in what is the biggest mass exodus there since the Nakba in 1948.
“We reiterate our grave concern at the deterioration of the situation and humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and in West Bank as a result of the Israeli military offensive, which led to mass killing and injury of civilians, forced displacement and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure,” they noted, adding that they were concerned about the unfolding situation in Southern Lebanon and its associated loss of civilian lives and damage to civilian infrastructure.
The president of BRICS member South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, said that other bloc leadership welcomed his country’s actions in defending Palestinians. He added that he informed them that South Africa would be submitting its complete genocide case against Israel in the next few days to the International Court of Justice. The case was initially filed late last year on the grounds that the Jewish state failed to uphold its commitments under the 1948 Genocide Convention, and public hearings will get underway in January. Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Libya, Nicaragua and Turkey have since joined the case.
Ramaphosa said that the countries around the world “have a responsibility not to fund or facilitate” Israel’s genocidal acts.
The BRICS leaders called for an urgent ceasefire as well as the release of captives from both sides of fighting.
Palestinian Authority president attends summit and confirms intention to apply for BRICS membership
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attended the summit after receiving a personal invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the PA confirmed they intend to apply for membership in BRICS. Abbas reportedly spoke with Putin on the sidelines of the summit about the latest developments in Palestine and their efforts to stop Israel’s reign of terror in Gaza. He emphasized the need for international cooperation in terms of both providing humanitarian aid and putting an end to Israel’s violence.
Another attendee was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has formally requested to join the bloc. Reports indicate that Turkey views it as a “good alternative” to the European Union.
The group, which was initially composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded at the beginning of the year when Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE and Iran joined.
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