China urges international actions amid worsening Middle East tensions

China called for urgent international actions on the Palestinian-Israeli issue as the Middle East conflict continues to expand, with rising tensions posing serious risks to regional stability and the global economy, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said at the UN Security Council briefing on Tuesday.

Fu urged the international community to demonstrate strong political will and take decisive steps toward a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution against the grave backdrop.

Fu outlined three key points in face of the rapidly deteriorating Palestinian question, ongoing shelling in Gaza, intensified settlement activities in the West Bank, and further erosion of the two-State solution.

First of all, human life must be prioritized and the suffering of the people of Gaza must end immediately.

Since the ceasefire agreement was reached, Israel has continued to launch attacks, killing more than 600 Gazans. Restrictions on humanitarian access and repeated closures of the Rafah crossing have worsened the crisis.

China calls on all parties concerned, especially Israel, to fully comply with the ceasefire agreement and work toward a genuine, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, fully open border crossings, lift restrictions on humanitarian access and cease attacks on humanitarian organizations, especially UNRWA.

Secondly, international rule of law must be supported and illegal activities in the West Bank must be stopped resolutely.

Expanding settlement activities and rising settler violence have displaced more than 36,000 Palestinians over the past year. China is deeply shocked by the killing of four Palestinian civilians by Israeli security forces on March 15. Settlement activities constitute a serious violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 2334.

China urges Israel to immediately stop settlement activities, curb settler violence, refrain from the excessive use of force against civilians, investigate and hold accountable those responsible for attacks on civilians, and put an end to impunity. 

Thirdly, fairness and justice must be upheld and efforts to advance the two-State solution must be accelerated.

China reaffirmed that the two-State solution remains the only one universally recognized and reasonable path to the question of Palestine, and Gaza and the West Bank are both integral parts of the State of Palestine.

China calls on the international community to firmly reject any attempt to annex Palestinian territory and oppose unilateral actions that erode the foundation of the two-State solution.

The international community must not allow the Palestinian question to be marginalized once again. It is imperative that irreversible steps be taken to advance the two-State solution and support the establishment of an independent State of Palestine at an early date. Fu stressed that the UN has the responsibility to play a leading role in this process.

Fu noted that China will continue working with the international community to promote a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, end the humanitarian catastrophe, implement the two-State solution, and help restore justice for the State of Palestine, restore tranquility for its people, and restore peace for the Middle East.