The BRICS group of nations has called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the recognition of Palestinian statehood during its two-day conference in the Russian city of Kazan.
During the first day of the 2024 BRICS Summit held on Oct. 23 and 24, the group reiterated its support for Palestine's admission as a full member of the United Nations. In a statement, BRICS called for the establishment of 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."
The call to recognize Palestinian statehood is "based on a commitment to a two-state solution under international law," according to the Cradle. But Israel and the U.S., its close ally, continue to stand in the way of this goal.
The statement also expressed "grave concern over the deteriorating situation and the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian [territories] – in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank." It likewise called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of captives on both sides, something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have consistently blocked.
The statement called for the full implementation of four resolutions by the United Nations Security Council: Resolutions 2712 and 2720 (from 2023) and Resolutions 2728 and 2734 (from this year). It welcomed the ongoing efforts of Qatar and Egypt, as well as other efforts at the regional and international levels, to bring a peaceful end to the ongoing conflict. The statement called to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid, which Tel Aviv has been blocking, to Gazans in need and for Israeli forces to withdraw from the Strip.
"The summit comes as Israel is intensifying its siege on the north of Gaza; continuing deadly operations in the occupied West Bank; and carrying [out] a brutal campaign of airstrikes, as well as ground incursions, in Lebanon," the Cradle continued.
Turkey, Palestinian Authority present at BRICS summit
The outlet also noted that two potential BRICS members – the Palestinian National Authority (PA) in charge of the West Bank and Turkey – were in attendance. PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in time for the two-day summit.
In late August, the PA confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally invited Abbas to the summit and that it would seek to apply for BRICS membership. The month after, Turkey formally requested membership – with Ankara praising the group as a "good alternative" to the European Union and noting that it had much "potential." (Related: Turkey submits request to join BRICS group of nations.)
Initially made up of the five founding countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – BRICS added four new members at the start of 2024. The group welcomed Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia – expanding its current membership to nine.
"After Russia became the most sanctioned nation in the world following the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the BRICS bloc began seriously pursuing the creation of a common currency to de-dollarize trade and circumvent Western sanctions," the Cradle noted.
This was not the first time the group spoke out against Israel's ongoing campaign against the Palestinian people. In a virtual summit last November, BRICS called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip so that the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis there can be addressed. The group, at the time chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, slammed the attacks on civilians in both Palestinian and Israeli soil.
"We condemn any kind of individual or mass forcible transfer and deportation of Palestinians from their own land," said a chair's summary obtained by Al Jazeera. It 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."
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Watch this clip of PA President Mahmoud Abbas reiterating Palestine's desire to join BRICS.
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