Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will convene a diplomatic gathering in Moscow on Tuesday, focusing on the developments in Gaza. The meeting will include foreign ministers from member states of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The announcement, relayed by a spokesperson from the Russian foreign ministry through the RIA news agency, did not disclose the specific countries participating in this Moscow-based discussion.
Historically aligned with Israel, Russia has recently assumed a measured pro-Palestinian stance amid the conflict in Gaza. The nation has criticized Israel for civilian casualties and reiterated its enduring support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In parallel, ministers from Arab and Muslim nations urged an immediate ceasefire during their visit to Beijing, the inaugural stop on their diplomatic tour seeking to halt hostilities and facilitate humanitarian aid for the distressed Palestinian territory.
This delegation, spanning Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestinian authorities, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, is slated to engage with representatives of each of the UN Security Council’s five permanent members. Simultaneously, the group exerts pressure on Western powers to reject Israel’s justification of its actions against Palestinians as self-defence.
Meanwhile …
In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, leaders from the Brics countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are set to convene in a virtual Extraordinary Meeting on the West Asia situation. Newly added member-states, including Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, will also be part of the discussion, as announced by South Africa.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have confirmed their participation, while India is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will chair the meeting, followed by a joint statement on Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, advocating for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, will also attend.
Ramaphosa emphasised on Monday that peace hinges on the freedom of Palestinians.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned Hamas terror attacks at the conflict’s onset. India maintained a balanced stance by highlighting the importance of international humanitarian law, providing aid to Gaza, and reiterating support for a two-state solution.
President Ramaphosa is slated to deliver opening remarks at the BRICS Extraordinary Meeting, with member and invited states delivering country statements on the Gaza humanitarian crisis. UN Secretary-General António Guterres will also participate in the virtual meeting. The summit is expected to conclude with the adoption of a Joint Statement on the Middle East situation, specifically referencing Gaza.
South Africa’s announcement noted that approximately 1,200 people in Israel and 11,000 in Gaza have lost their lives since the conflict began on October 7. Ramaphosa emphasized the government’s unwavering call for justice for the oppressed Palestinian people, immediate cessation of hostilities, and accountability for civilian deaths, asserting that peace is contingent on the freedom of Palestinians.
Expert Speak
Sharing his thoughts with Financial Express Online, former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat says: “This is following the two important meetings one was the extraordinary joint meeting of OIC and Arab League convened by Saudi Arabia and the meeting of Arab and Islamic countries Foreign Ministers with their Chinese counterparts and both asked for immediate cessation of hostilities and ceasefire to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.”
“Russia has also been trying to work towards it as Qatar has sorted out some deals for release and exchange of hostages. Russia is the Chair of BRICS this year and several West Asia powers including Saudi Arabia and UAE and Iran have recently joined BRICS and dozens of others waiting to join hence the virtual meeting by Moscow which is also close to Hamas,” the former diplomat who has served in the region said.
In his opinion, “They will also try to impress upon Israel and the US to convert longer pauses into a ceasefire so that further mayhem in southern Gaza could be averted. So far the international community and multilateral institutions have behaved like cry-babies with little impact on the ground situation. However as per statements by Israel and hostage release on the anvil we might see some sort of temporary ceasefire.”