BRICS backs Gaza ceasefire, calls for two-state solution for Palestine

The group expressed concern over increasing nuclear risks and emphasized the importance of upholding nuclear safeguards, safety, and security, particularly in armed conflicts. Additionally, BRICS leaders praised the ceasefire in Lebanon and urged the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

The declaration also condemned unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures, stating they distort trade and violate World Trade Organization rules. The foreign ministers reaffirmed support for the State of Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations as part of their commitment to the two-state solution, envisioning a sovereign, independent, and viable Palestinian state within the internationally recognized 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They also called for immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire negotiations, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of hostages and detainees. Support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was also reaffirmed.

Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev participated in the BRICS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in New Delhi on May 14-15, 2026. BRICS, a bloc of emerging economies, has expanded its reach to the MENA region, with Egypt, Iran, and the UAE joining in 2023, and an invitation extended to the State of Palestine for membership in August 2024. This expansion reflects an ambition to foster South-South cooperation and challenge the US-dominated world order.