The leaders of China, Xi Jinpingand Russia, Vladimir Putinwill participate this Tuesday in a virtual summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), dedicated to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“At the invitation of the President of South Africa, Cyril RamaphosaPresident Xi Jinping will attend the BRICS summit, dedicated to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, on November 21 in Beijing,” China Central Television reported.
In the context of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the Asian country, Mao Ning, declared today that “more than a thousand Chinese citizens have left Israel” since October 7.
The Secretary General of the United Nations will also participate in the virtual meeting to address the offensive in Gaza, António Guterres.
Likewise, representatives from Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are invited for the first time.
The South African Government indicated in a statement on its website that President Ramaphosa will lead “an extraordinary meeting on the situation in Gaza” and detailed that “leaders from Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates (UAE)”.
“Ramaphosa will give a statement to open the extraordinary meeting, where member states and guests will also make statements on the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” he said, before announcing that it is planned to adopt “a joint statement on the situation, in reference to particularly Gaza,” the Europa Press news agency reported.
Last week, South Africa joined several countries that asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel for war crimes in the context of the conflict unleashed on October 7 after the attacks carried out by the Islamist movement Hamas.
Last week South Africa joined several countries that asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel for war crimes in the context of the conflict unleashed on October 7 after the attacks carried out by the Islamist movement Hamas.
The Kremlin also confirmed the presence of Putin, who will participate the day after a G20 summit, also virtual.
The leader, diplomatically isolated since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, was absent from the latest annual meetings of the BRICS and the G20, in South Africa and India respectively.
Putin is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over allegations that he deported children to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.
On the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza, both Beijing and the Kremlin call for a ceasefire.
Moscow believes that the only way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East is the creation of a Palestinian state.
Putin believes that The United States is responsible for the current deadly conflict and accuses him of having monopolized the Israeli-Palestinian peace process for years without finding solutions.
In Israel, 1,200 people died, while another 240 – of which around twenty are Argentine – were taken hostage in the attack launched by Hamas on October 7, according to authorities.
In response, the Israeli Army carries out an air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that has left some 13,000 dead, including some 5,500 minors, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health, which controls this Palestinian territory.
The post first appeared on www.telam.com.ar