South Africa will chair an emergency BRICS summit on the Gaza crisis, scheduled for Tuesday. President Cyril Ramaphosa will host the virtual meeting aimed at crafting a unified response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has now entered its seventh week.
The summit will bring together BRICS leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, and China, as well as representatives from newly joined BRICS countries including Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected to participate, with the meeting likely to conclude with a joint statement.
The summit follows a failed attempt by APEC leaders, which include China and the United States, to reach a consensus on the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have confirmed their attendance. Putin has suggested that Russia could play a mediating role and has criticized the West and Israel’s actions in the conflict. China has expressed support for a two-state solution.
The conflict began on October 7, when Hamas fighters crossed into Israel, killing over 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostages. The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 13,000 Palestinian deaths.
South Africa has called for an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into the conflict and requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing violations of international law. Additionally, South Africa plans to recall its diplomats from Israel in protest.
The war has severely impacted Gaza, with Israeli forces surrounding Al-Shifa hospital. The World Health Organization described the area as a “death zone” and reported the evacuation of premature babies to Egypt. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has indicated that a truce agreement could be near, potentially leading to the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
