Xi Calls For Ceasefire At BRICS Summit

MNI London: Wires carrying comments from Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking at a virtual summit of BRICS leaders on the Israel-Hamas war, calling for a ceasefire, "to realize lasting peace and security," and, "restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation."

• Bullet edited with corrections: GMT14:22
• According to Xinhua, Xi said: "All parties in the conflicts should immediately cease fire and hostilities, stop all violence and attacks targeting civilians, and release civilian detainees to avoid more loss of lives and suffering... Without a 'just settlement' of the Palestinian question, there will be no enduring peace and stability in the Middle East."
• Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the summit earlier today: "We call for the joint efforts of the international community aimed at de-escalating the situation... [and] the BRICS states and countries of the region could play a key role in this work."
• The Israel-Hamas war has again exposed fissures between the West and the China/Russia alligned BRICS grouping. A high-level delegation of leaders and diplomats from Arab and majority-Muslim countries met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing yesterday - a sign that China's influence in the Middle East could be expanded if Western Israel allies fail to successfully broker a prisoner-exchange.
• Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry told Wang yesterday: "We look forward to a stronger role on the part of great powers such as China in order to stop the attacks against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, there are major countries that give cover to the current Israeli attacks."