In a significant diplomatic declaration, BRICS member states agreed to support an “independent” State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital. But as The Hindu reported, the consensus fractured on two critical points: the future of the Gaza Strip and the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran claims falls within Iranian and Omani “territorial waters.”
The declaration arrives against a volatile backdrop. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Thursday that Israeli forces now control 60% of the Gaza Strip — a footprint he acknowledged exceeds what was envisioned in October’s ceasefire plan. Israel also launched a strike targeting Izz al-Din al-Haddad, described as one of the masterminds of the October 7, 2023 attacks. The ongoing violence suggests that ceasefire efforts have stalled, even as Netanyahu declared that all Israeli hostages had been brought home.
