BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that ending the conflict early and building lasting peace is the shared aspiration of the people of Palestine, Israel and the Middle East, as well as an urgent priority for the international community. Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory.
He made these remarks during his regular briefing when asked to comment an inquiry concerning the recently escalated Palestinian-Israeli conflict that caused significant casualties and displacement among Palestinian civilians. Moreover, several countries, including the UK, Canada and Australia, have announced recognition of the State of Palestine.
He said that China believes that under the current circumstances, there must be an utmost sense of urgency to promote a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe.
Countries with special influence over Israel should take their responsibilities seriously, ensuring the principle of “the Palestinians governing Palestine” is truly implemented and safeguarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation in post-war governance and reconstruction arrangements, Guo urged.
The “two-state solution” must be unwaveringly upheld, with greater international consensus gathered to reject any unilateral actions that undermine its foundation, the spokesperson said.
Guo stressed that force cannot bring peace, nor can violence ensure security. China is willing to work with the international community to continue efforts toward a ceasefire in Gaza, firmly supporting the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights.
China will make unremitting efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue as soon as possible.
Earlier, A Chinese envoy on Tuesday warned against possible Israeli occupation of the entire Gaza Strip.
Recent media reports indicate that Israel has decided to escalate its military offensive and fully occupy Gaza. China expresses its grave concern about this, said Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.
“We urge Israel to immediately halt such dangerous actions. We urge all parties to promptly reach a binding and sustainable ceasefire agreement. We further urge countries with significant influence over the parties concerned to act in a just and responsible manner and take concrete steps to help bring about a ceasefire,” he told the Security Council. Israel’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 civilians in Gaza, with innocent lives still being lost every day. The harsh reality has shown that military means are not a solution and that an immediate ceasefire is the right path to saving lives and bringing hostages home, he said.
The 2 million innocent civilians in Gaza should not be victims of war, nor should they endure further suffering from manmade disasters. Under the current extreme blockade and siege, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to worsen with severe famine looming large, said Geng. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
