BRICS Calls for a ‘Sustained’ Ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and other BRICS leaders expressed condemnation for “acts of violence” affecting both Palestinian and Israeli civilians amid the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. This stance was conveyed through a joint statement released on Tuesday.

The virtual meeting, organized by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, involved 11 nations. Its objective was to establish a unified position and response within the BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

In addition to the primary BRICS nations, officials and leaders from prospective BRICS members, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina, also participated in the event.

However, Argentina is expected to withdraw from BRICS consideration, with Argentina’s newly-elected Javier Milei saying his nation would not join the BRICS group.

A statement issued by the BRICS chair called for the “immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being held illegally held captive” and called for an independent investigation according to international standards.

https://www.twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1726984282865127787

It also “condemned any kind of individual or mass forcible transfer and deportation of Palestinians from their own land,” a chair’s summary read.

The group also “reiterated that the forced transfer and deportation of Palestinians, whether inside Gaza or to neighboring countries, constitute grave breaches of the Geneva conventions and war crimes and violations under International Humanitarian Law.”

TENSIONS BUILD BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SOUTH AFRICA

During the virtual meeting on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa accused Israel of committing war crimes in the conflict, which Israel denied.

“The collective punishment of Palestinian civilians through the unlawful use of force by Israel is a war crime. The deliberate denial of medicine, fuel, food, and water to the residents of Gaza is tantamount to genocide,” Ramaphosa said.

However, the South African leader decided not to address Israel’s allegations that Hamas is using hospitals as bases for terrorist activities and using patients and staff as human shields.

Earlier in the day, South Africa’s Parliament voted to close down Israel’s embassy in Pretoria.

BRICS AT ODDS WITH WEST

BRICS was established as a coalition of prominent emerging economies and positions itself as an alternative to the United States and Europe. It frequently aligns itself in opposition to Western values.

Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Germany, Israel, and the European Union. However, the BRICS core countries, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, have not designated Hamas as a terrorist group.

 

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