BRICS Demands Gaza Ceasefire, Rejects Forced Displacement of Palestinians

The BRICS countries issued a joint declaration on Saturday, calling for the Gaza ceasefire to be maintained and for full and unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

The declaration was adopted at the BRICS summit in New Delhi, India.

The BRICS countries reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians.

They also opposed any geographical or demographic changes to the Gaza Strip.

The bloc rejected unilateral measures aimed at changing the legal and historical status of occupied Jerusalem and called for respect for all religious and holy sites in the city.

The declaration also called for the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions to end tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

BRICS leaders stressed the need to prevent conflicts and address their root causes.

The leaders called for international disputes to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and expressed concern over the growing risk of nuclear war.

They stressed that nuclear facilities must remain protected and secure during armed conflicts.

BRICS countries also criticised unilateral trade restrictions and increases in tariffs.

Xi Jinping’s remarks

Addressing the BRICS summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the war in the Middle East had caused heavy losses to people across the region and was not in the interests of the international community.

Xi called for avoiding any further escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf, saying China was ready to work with BRICS countries to contribute to peace in the region.

He said BRICS countries should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and should play a leading role in promoting peace and stability.

Xi reiterated that the Middle East war was not in the interests of the international community and had caused significant damage to the region.

BRICS — Background

BRICS was originally formed as BRIC in 2009, bringing together Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2010, turning BRIC into BRICS.

The grouping subsequently expanded, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates joining in 2024, while Indonesia joined in 2025.

BRICS is a political and economic cooperation grouping representing major emerging economies.

Its agenda includes economic cooperation, trade, development, reform of global institutions, and greater representation for developing countries in international decision-making.

BRICS currently has 10 member states: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.