BRICS countries to hold extraordinary joint meeting on situation in Gaza

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - The BRICS group of nations will hold an Extraordinary Joint Meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Gaza six weeks into the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

According to a statement, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will chair the virtual meeting, which will also be attended by the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that President Xi Jinping will attend the virtual summit.

New BRICS entrants whose full membership commences next year, including Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, have also been invited to join the meeting.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also take part in the summit, where the BRICS leaders will deliver country statements on the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Authorities in Gaza said Monday that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 has jumped to over 13,300.

In a statement, the Gaza-based government’s media office said this includes 5,600 children and 3,550 women.

It added that it also includes 201 medical staff, 22 members of civil defense rescue teams and 60 journalists.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.