Saudi Crown Prince calls for global halt on weapon exports to Israel at BRICS summit

WEB DESK: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, made a significant appeal during an extraordinary BRICS summit on Tuesday, urging nations worldwide to cease weapon exports to Israel.

The virtual meeting, hosted by South Africa and attended by major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), focuses on establishing a collective response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed the need for a serious and comprehensive peace process to create a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.

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He stated, “The Kingdom’s position is constant and firm; there is no way to achieve security and stability in Palestine except through the implementation of international decisions related to the two-state solution.”

Having joined the BRICS bloc earlier this year, Saudi Arabia reiterated its rejection of Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, with the Crown Prince calling for an immediate halt to these actions.

He expressed concern about the “brutal crimes” unfolding in Gaza, emphasizing the necessity of collective efforts to end them.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also condemned the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, urging collaborative initiatives to prevent a further deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts since the beginning of the conflict on October 7 to protect civilians in Gaza.

The conflict in Gaza escalated after Hamas gunmen killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in cross-border raids on October 7, marking the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.

In response, Israel initiated a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas. According to Gaza authorities, the war has claimed over 13,300 lives, including thousands of children.