BRICS nations condemn ‘unprecedented’ Israeli violence in Gaza

Foreign ministers of the bloc called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridor into Gaza

News Desk - The Cradle

BRICS nations have condemned Israel’s actions against the Palestinians in Gaza in a joint statement released on 10 June, pushing calls for a ceasefire and the unobstructed delivery of aid to the strip.

“The Ministers expressed grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli military operation that led to mass civilian displacement, death and casualties, and destruction of civilian infrastructure,” the BRICS ministers said in a joint statement.

The ministers demanded the implementation of relevant UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions and UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2720, which calls for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. BRICS ministers also called for the effective implementation of UNSC resolution 2728, which calls for an “immediate, durable, and sustained ceasefire.” They further called for the immediate and unconditional release of all captives.

Ministers expressed grave concern over Israel’s increasing attacks on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying they “condemned the Israeli military operation in Rafah and its ramifications that directly impact the civilian lives, especially in view of the high density of Palestinian civilians in this location, and the humanitarian catastrophic results due to the suspension of the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side.”

“They acknowledged the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the legal proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel,” the statement continued. “The Ministers expressed serious concern at Israel’s continued blatant disregard of international law, the UN Charter, UN resolutions and Court orders.”

BRICS ministers reaffirmed they reject the attempts at forcefully displacing Palestinians from their land, cautioning “against the spill over effects” of increasing tensions in West Asia.

“The Ministers reaffirmed their support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations and reiterated their unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution,” the joint statement read.

On Monday, BRICS ministers met in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod to exchange views on global and regional trends and issues. They reaffirmed their goals of strengthening the bloc’s strategic partnership under political, economic, and cultural pillars of cooperation.

During a sideline meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, the two agreed to hold a meeting between Russia and five other Arab nations to discuss ways to stop the war on Gaza.