South Africa Leads Fresh Critique of Israel at BRICS Meeting.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza during a virtual summit of the BRICS group of nations. Ramaphosa and other leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, called for a cease-fire and emphasized the BRICS bloc's role in achieving peace. While the BRICS nations did not agree on a joint declaration, their comments demonstrate a rejection of the US-led approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict and a desire to assert themselves on the global stage. South Africa recently joined other developing nations in referring Israel to the International Criminal Court for war crimes. The BRICS initiative and China's parallel talks with Middle Eastern officials are likely to be welcomed by Arab leaders who perceive bias in US-Israel relations. However, it is unlikely to gain traction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration. The BRICS bloc aims to play a larger role in global affairs, including reducing reliance on the US dollar and gaining more influence over key political institutions. While the bloc's ability to reach common ground on the Gaza issue remains to be seen, its expanded membership and significant share of global output make it increasingly influential. [Extracted from the article]