President Xi Jinping of China called for the release of civilian detainees and an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict during a virtual summit with other BRICS leaders. He urged all parties to stop violence against civilians and to convene an international peace conference to resolve the conflict. Beijing has been actively working towards promoting peace and providing humanitarian assistance to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. China has historically been sympathetic to the Palestinians and supportive of a two-state solution. The virtual BRICS meeting, hosted by Pretoria, aims to coordinate a common response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.