BRICS Leaders Unite for Peace: Call for Immediate Truce in Israel-Hamas Conflict

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Global leaders from BRICS urge restraint, humanitarian truce, and diplomatic solutions to quell the Israel-Hamas tensions.

In a landmark virtual meeting hosted by South Africa, leaders of the BRICS bloc, including China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Brazil, India, and South Africa, issued a joint statement urging Israel and Hamas to “exercise maximum restraint” amid the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. The meeting also included officials and leaders from potential future BRICS members, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina.

The BRICS leaders called for “an immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities,” emphasizing the need to prevent further destabilization in the region and ensure the conflict does not escalate in the Middle East.

Specific points highlighted in the joint statement include condemning acts of violence impacting Palestinian and Israeli civilians and urging the release of all illegally held civilians. While not explicitly addressing the recent hostage situation during the October 7 attacks in Israel, the leaders stressed the importance of exercising maximum restraint by all parties involved.

The leaders of South Africa, Russia, China, Brazil and India in the BRICS bloc called for Israel and Hamas to "exercise maximum restraint." They also urged allied countries to prevent the conflict from expanding. https://t.co/Elkq8HFgyH

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Chinese President Xi Jinping recommended the organization of an “international peace conference” to address the conflict comprehensively and justly. The BRICS core countries reiterated their support for a two-state solution, advocating for an independent state for Palestinians.

During the talks, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Israel of committing war crimes, alleging the “unlawful use of force” as a collective punishment against Palestinian civilians. South Africa, among other actions, recently referred Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation and recalled its diplomats from Israel.

The BRICS meeting underscores a united call for peace and stability in the region, emphasizing diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict.