BRICS Backs Independent State of Palestine

BRICS foreign ministers met in New Delhi on 15 May 2026 and reaffirmed support for an independent and viable State of Palestine within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The meeting also referred to the Gaza Strip as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and linked Palestinian statehood to the two-state solution under international law.

BRICS and West Asia Diplomacy

BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies. Its members are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and the grouping has expanded in recent years to include new members. Foreign ministers of the grouping meet regularly to discuss international peace, security, trade and multilateral cooperation.

Palestinian Statehood and the Two-State Solution

The two-state solution refers to the creation of two sovereign states, Israel and Palestine, in the territory of historic Palestine. The pre-1967 borders refer to the armistice lines that existed before the Six-Day War of 1967, and East Jerusalem is claimed by Palestinians as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority was created under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s and administers parts of the West Bank. The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are the two main Palestinian territories, and the Gaza Strip has been under blockade and repeated conflict since 2007.

Key Points from the New Delhi Meeting

BRICS foreign ministers called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of hostages, and unhindered humanitarian assistance. The ministers also supported full membership for the State of Palestine in the United Nations.

Important Facts for Exams

• The pre-1967 borders are also called the 1949 armistice lines or the Green Line.
• East Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive issues in the Israel-Palestine dispute.
• The Palestinian Authority was established after the Oslo Accords signed in 1993 and 1995.
• The United Nations General Assembly granted Palestine non-member observer State status in 2012.

Meeting Outcome and Consensus Issues

The BRICS foreign ministers did not issue a joint statement at the New Delhi meeting because members held different views on the wider West Asia conflict. One BRICS member objected to parts of the Gaza-related section in India’s Chair’s Statement of 15 May 2026.