Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “a cause of great concern,” adding that “no matter how difficult the circumstances, the path of peace is the only option for the welfare of humanity.” Modi said global progress depends on a peaceful and secure environment and urged the bloc to steer the world away from division toward dialogue and cooperation. Modi’s comments come as the Israel-Hamas conflict nears its second year. Health officials in Gaza say more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed, while Israel counts about 1,150 deaths stemming from Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack. Negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States on a 60-day cease-fire resumed in Doha this week, but fighting and restrictions on aid deliveries continue to exacerbate shortages of food, water and medicine in the enclave. Echoing Modi, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called the war in Gaza “the most dangerous crisis of our time” and accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law. Speaking on behalf of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Madbouly urged BRICS members to back an Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza’s early recovery and reconstruction and to participate in an international conference once a permanent cease-fire is reached. The two leaders’ remarks placed the Gaza conflict at the centre of the 17th BRICS summit’s agenda on peace, security and global governance. The gathering of 11 emerging economies—expanded last year to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—continues on Monday with debates on multilateral reform, debt relief and the use of local currencies in trade.