BRICS members agree on ‘independent’ Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital

The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting, which concluded on Friday, reiterated the bloc’s support for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. However, sharp differences among member nations on geopolitical issues prevented the adoption of a Joint Statement, leading instead to the release of the ‘Chair's Statement and Outcome Document’, as per reports. 

According to sources, major disagreements emerged between delegations from the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, while addressing a press conference, defended Tehran’s position on regional issues, including tensions with the UAE and Iran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as a maritime region that falls within the “territorial waters of Iran and Oman”. 

The Chair’s Statement reportedly reaffirmed BRICS’ support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations and reiterated commitment to the two-state solution based on international law, relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. The document called for the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state comprising the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital, enabling both Israel and Palestine to coexist peacefully and securely.

While there was broad agreement on Palestinian statehood, tensions reportedly surfaced over references to the Gaza Strip. Responding to questions about objections raised by a BRICS member, Araghchi reportedly remarked that “everybody knows which country blocked anything against Israel”, accusing that country of assisting the United States and Israel through military bases and calling it a “direct party” to the conflict.

The document also described Gaza as an “inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory” and advocated for the unification of the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas. The issue of transferring control of Gaza from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority reportedly became another point of contention between Iran and the UAE, with both sides objecting to specific formulations in the text.

Sources further indicated that Iran opposed language concerning the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea, where Iran-backed Houthi groups have intensified disruptive activities. Officials present during the discussions described the exchanges between Iran and the UAE as extensive and candid, with both countries firmly defending their respective positions regarding the regional conflict.

Araghchi reportedly said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remained “complicated” and blamed the United States for escalating tensions in the region. The Chair’s Statement acknowledged that BRICS members held differing views on developments in West Asia and the Middle East.

As per reports, the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, particularly regarding stalled negotiations between Iran and the United States after President Donald Trump reportedly rejected Tehran’s proposals earlier this week. It called for the safe and uninterrupted flow of maritime trade through international waterways and emphasized the protection of civilian lives and infrastructure.

Rejecting the reference to “international waterways”, Araghchi reportedly maintained that the Strait of Hormuz is jointly managed by Iran and Oman. He added that both countries are discussing future arrangements to ensure uninterrupted navigation once regional tensions ease.

According to reports, earlier this week, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had stated that Tehran was developing a protocol, including financial mechanisms, to compensate Iran for providing navigation and rescue services in the Strait of Hormuz.