Xi calls for an end to Israel’s “collective punishment” against Gazans
Chinese President Xi Jinping today called for an end to Israel’s “collective punishment” against the Gaza Strip, including forced displacement and deprivation of water and electricity, at an extraordinary virtual meeting of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). “Collective punishments of the population in the form of forced displacement and the deprivation of water, electricity and fuel must stop,” demanded the Chinese president during this meeting sponsored by South Africa, which holds the rotating presidency of the BRICS group of emerging economies this year. “China believes that the conflict must end to prevent the death of more people,” added Xi, who also called for the opening of humanitarian aid corridors in Gaza. The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are expected to participate in this extraordinary meeting, along with those of Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, countries whose accession to the group was approved last August in the bloc summit held in the South African city of Johannesburg.