In its declaration issued on Wednesday, the BRICS leaders reiterated their grave concern at the deterioration of the situation and humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, “in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and West Bank as a result of the Israeli military offensive, which led to mass killing and injury of civilians, forced displacement and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure."

“We stress the urgent need for an immediate, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees from both sides who are being illegally held captive and the unhindered sustainable and at-scale supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and cessation of all aggressive actions.”

The Kazan Declaration said adding that the BRICS leaders denounce the Israeli attacks against humanitarian operations, facilities, personnel, and distribution points.

It called for adherence to international law and the full implementation of resolutions 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023), 2728 (2024) and 2735 (2024) of the United Nations Security Council.

It also welcomed the continuous efforts by Egypt and Qatar as well as other regional and international efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and ensure Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

“We are also alarmed that the further escalation of the conflict in the Gaza Strip fuel tension, extremism and severe negative consequences both regionally and globally,” read the declaration.

The BRICS bloc also acknowledged the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the legal proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel.

It also reaffirmed its support for Palestine's full UN membership, emphasizing commitment to the two-state solution based on international law, including relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. This includes establishing a sovereign, independent State of Palestine within the internationally recognized 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living peacefully alongside Israel, it added.

War in Lebanon
 

Regarding the situation in South Lebanon, the BRICS expressed alarm over the situation there condemning the loss of civilian lives and the immense damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from attacks by Israel in residential areas in Lebanon and called for immediate cessation of military acts.

“We stress the need to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Lebanon and to create conditions for political and diplomatic solutions to safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East while underlining the importance of strict observance of UNSC resolutions 1701 (2006) and 2749 (2024),” read the declaration.

The BRICS Bloc also condemned attacks on UN personnel, and threats to their safety and called upon Israel to immediately cease such activity.

It also expressed its concern over the increasing incidents of terrorist attacks linked with ICT capabilities.

“In this regard, we condemn the premeditated terrorist act of detonating handheld communication devices in Beirut on 17 September 2024, resulted in the loss of life and injury of dozens of civilians. We reiterate that these attacks constitute a grave violation of International Law,” read the declaration.

Red Sea and Syria
 

The BRICS Bloc also stressed the importance of ensuring the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms of vessels of all states in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait, in accordance with international law.

“We encourage enhanced diplomatic efforts by all parties to that end, including by addressing the causes of the conflict, and continued support for dialogue and Yemen’s peace process under UN auspices.”

The declaration also stressed that Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be strictly observed, condemning illegal foreign military presence that leads to increasing risks of a large-scale conflict in the region.

“We emphasize that illegal unilateral sanctions seriously exacerbate the suffering of the Syrian people,” it said.

The BRICS Bloc also condemned the attack against the diplomatic premises of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Syrian capital Damascus by Israel on 1 April 2024, saying that it constituted a violation of the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended the summit.