BRICS summit showcases a new force in shaping international landscape

Editor's note: Wang Jin, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate professor at Northwest University of China. The article reflects the author's opinion and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed "it is very timely and very important that we meet and speak up for justice and for peace on the Palestine-Israeli issue" in his speech at the BRICS extraordinary virtual meeting on November 21. As the first summit since BRICS's expansion, Xi's speech has attracted widespread attention.

Achieving an immediate ceasefire, securing humanitarian corridors, and the international community's acting with practical measures to prevent the conflict from spilling over are urgent and imperative, President Xi emphasized.

The Gaza Strip covers an area of about 360 square kilometers, but has a population of over 2 million. The region has been under a crippling Israeli blockade for more than a decade. The ongoing military operations have further deprived Gaza of water, electricity, and fuel, putting local people's security at risk.

Therefore, as President Xi emphasized, the collective punishment of people in Gaza must stop. And China is taking concrete steps to help Gaza.

According to President Xi, China has provided $2 million of emergency humanitarian assistance through the Palestinian National Authority and UN agencies, and emergency humanitarian supplies worth another 15 million yuan ($2.1 million) with the help of Egypt to ease the humanitarian plight in the Gaza Strip.

China's role in addressing the Palestine-Israel issue has been recognized by the international community. As the rotating president of the UN Security Council this month, China has taken active actions to mend rifts and build consensus. As a result, the Security Council – 40 days after the outbreak of the new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict – adopted its first resolution focusing on humanitarian concerns. This has demonstrated the international recognition of China's role in the matter.

As President Xi said, the root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli situation is the fact that the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence, and their right of return have long been ignored. Therefore, the two-state solution is the fundamental way out. China has been supporting the Palestinian people's call for legitimate national rights and advocating political negotiations to realize sustainable peace and security in the region.

Although the UN affirmed commitments to realize the vision of two states living side by side – both having East Jerusalem as their capital, and to properly solve the Palestine refugee problem, the Palestine-Israel peace process has witnessed grave challenges in recent years.

On the one hand, efforts by Israel to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank have intensified. The rapid increase in the number of Jewish settlers and the prolonged blockade of the Gaza Strip have exacerbated the antagonism between the Palestinians and the Israelis, undermining the trust in the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. On the other hand, the negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis led by the U.S. have long been at a standstill. Israel defines Hamas as a "terrorist organization" in this  conflict, while Hamas positions Israel as an illegitimate political entity in its political documents. As a result, direct communication between the two sides has not been possible as they lack an effective mechanism for dialogue.

Against this backdrop, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict requires urgent mediation by the international community. President Xi has called for the early convening of an international peace conference that is more authoritative to build international consensus for peace, and working toward an early solution to the question of Palestine that is comprehensive, just and sustainable.

It is worth noting that the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has secured a rare and brief peace. With the recent occupation by the Israeli army of Gaza City and some important sites in northern Gaza, major divisions have emerged in Israel over its strategy in Gaza. Some Israelis believe that the Gaza Strip should be "reoccupied" now, maximizing the fight against Hamas and their support network. Others argue that it is time to "call it a day," to pause the military operations and try to rescue Israeli hostages.

The international community has actively mediated to facilitate an agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the exchange of hostages and a temporary ceasefire. It can be said that the current short-lived peace is a window of opportunity for the international community to help the parties to bridge their differences and seek a lasting peace.

It must be recognized that there is still a risk of escalation on a large scale. The current round of conflict not only involves the Gaza Strip, but also affects the West Bank, and poses a great challenge to neighboring countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria. It requires the mediation of the international community, and the strengthening of risk management by regional countries. The BRICS, an important multilateral mechanism involving emerging economies as well as some regional countries, needs to play a role in stating its position to prevent the conflict from escalating and spreading.

The BRICS extraordinary virtual summit on the Palestinian-Israeli issue is of great significance in strengthening unity and coordination among BRICS countries, breaking down the external skepticism about BRICS expansion. Some have said that BRICS would face great challenges to its unity after expansion and then would not be able to effectively deal with new risks and crises. The convening of this summit shows the resolution of the BRICS countries to unite and cooperate, and that they will make more contributions to build a new international political and economic order.

As an important force in shaping the international landscape, the BRICS mechanism can play a greater role in the Palestinian-Israeli issue and other hot topics. As President Xi has said, the BRICS cooperation mechanism is an important platform for emerging markets and developing countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and safeguard common interests. China, together with other BRICS member countries, will continue to contribute to world peace and development.

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