A Chinese envoy on Monday called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, stating that military actions cannot deliver enduring peace. Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks during a UN Security Council session, urging a shift toward political dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Fu noted the broader instability gripping the Middle East, highlighting Israel’s recent attack on southern Lebanon following a fragile ceasefire with Iran, which caused further casualties. He stressed that the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people continues to worsen.
He warned that continuing the conflict in Gaza would only lead to further loss of life, asserting that the only viable path forward is ending hostilities and initiating negotiations toward a political resolution. He urged Israel to immediately cease its military operations and called on influential countries to act responsibly and impartially to help secure a ceasefire.
Fu also condemned the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, emphasizing that Israel, as the occupying power, must comply with international humanitarian law by lifting its blockade, restoring humanitarian access, and cooperating with the UN and aid organizations.
The Chinese envoy criticized Israel’s ongoing activities in the West Bank, including settlement expansion, demolitions, land registration efforts, settler violence, and military operations—actions he said violate international law and Security Council resolutions. He called on Israel to halt these practices and to remove financial restrictions on Palestinian banks.
Reaffirming China’s position, Fu said the Palestinian issue remains central to Middle East peace, and the two-state solution is the only viable resolution. He called on the international community to unite in advancing this solution, opposing forced displacements and any attempts to annex Gaza or the West Bank.
China, Fu concluded, remains committed to working with the global community to end the violence in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and support a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution based on the two-state framework.
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