The Brics group of nations have called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war with each of the member states vowing to push for a speedy resolution to the conflict at various global and regional multilateral institutions.
The Brics group includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA. It agreed in August to add Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates as members.
The leaders of the group, except for Indian prime minister Nahendra Modi, met virtually on Tuesday in an extraordinary session to discuss conflict that has led to the deaths of 11,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis since Hamas militants attacked Israeli settlements on October 7.
The leaders warned the conflict has the potential of spilling into other parts of the region, and urged Israel and Hamas to exercise “maximum restraint”.
“The chair joined calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive, demanding that their safety, and wellbeing are guaranteed, and that humane treatment is accorded to them incompliance with international law,” a declaration issued after the meeting states.
“We stressed the need to pursue accountability. We must ensure that independent and transparent investigations are conducted in accordance with international standards,” it adds.
“We reaffirmed that a lasting solution to the Palestine and Israel conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said while reading the declaration after the meeting.
“We all agreed that the crisis has gone on for too long now and to be resolved ... we also called for an immediate, sustainable and durable cessation of hostilities ... in other words a ceasefire must happen.”
In his opening address to the meeting, Ramaphosa reiterated SA’s position that the International Criminal Court (ICC) should investigate war crimes against Israel and Hamas.
Last week SA submitted a joint referral with Bangladesh, Bolivia, Djibouti, and the Comoros to the ICC to prosecute those involved in war crimes in Gaza.
“As SA, we call for: First, an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. Second, the opening of humanitarian corridors so that aid and other basic services reach all those in need. Third, all countries to exercise restraint and to desist from fuelling this conflict, including by ceasing the supply of weapons to the parties. Fourth, the release of all civilian hostages,” Ramaphosa said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for an international peace conference to resolve the conflict.
“There can be no sustainable peace and security in the Middle East without a just solution to the question of Palestine ... China calls for an early convening of an international peace conference that is more authoritative to build international consensus for peace,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for Brics leaders to aim for a political solution to the conflict.
“We call for the joint efforts of the international community aimed at de-escalating the situation, a ceasefire and finding a political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. And the Brics states and countries of the region could play a key role in this work,” Putin said.
India’s external minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who was representing Modi, said the situation is “deeply concerning” and causing “immense human suffering”.
