Title: Stop Arms Exports to Israel: Saudi Crown Prince Calls for Peaceful Resolution at BRICS Summit
In a recent virtual BRICS summit meeting, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged all nations to halt weapon exports to Israel. The meeting, hosted by South Africa and attended by major emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, aimed to establish a unified response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Speaking at the summit, the Saudi Crown Prince emphasized the need for a serious and comprehensive peace process that would result in the creation of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. He stressed that the implementation of international decisions related to the two-state solution is crucial for achieving security and stability in Palestine.
Saudi Arabia, which joined the BRICS bloc earlier this year, reaffirmed its rejection of Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip and called for an immediate halt to them. The Crown Prince condemned the brutal crimes taking place in Gaza and stressed the importance of collective efforts to put an end to the suffering.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia expressed its opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and called for concerted efforts to improve the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the enclave. The Crown Prince highlighted Saudi Arabia’s tireless efforts to protect civilians in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict on October 7.
These virtual talks, the first between BRICS leaders since Israel’s invasion of Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas raid, took place against the backdrop of the group’s decision to admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the UAE from January. This move signifies BRICS’ determination to reshape the current Western-dominated world order, which it considers outdated.
During the summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the need for all parties to exercise maximum restraint and affirmed that a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can be achieved through peaceful means. However, leaders from different countries expressed varying perspectives. Argentina’s Foreign Minister recognized Israel’s right to self-defense while respecting humanitarian international law, while China’s President showed more sympathy towards the Palestinians by emphasizing their long-ignored right to statehood, existence, and return.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attributed the crisis to the failure of US diplomacy in the Middle East and called for joint efforts from the international community to de-escalate the situation, establish a ceasefire, and find a political resolution to the conflict. Putin highlighted the potential role that BRICS states could play in achieving these objectives.
In conclusion, the extraordinary BRICS summit witnessed significant calls for an end to arms exports to Israel and the need for a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Saudi Crown Prince, along with other leaders, underscored the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and achieving lasting peace. The participation of Saudi Arabia and other nations in the BRICS bloc reflects a strong push to challenge the prevailing global order and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable international system.
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