Africa -China Review Africa -China Cooperation and Transformation
Published: December 31,2023
A Chinese envoy on Friday urged the international community to make every effort to promote a ceasefire between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a Security Council open meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at the UN headquarters in New York City.
The violence against and killing of civilians, and raids and arrests in the West Bank, are still going on despite adopted resolutions by the General Assembly and the Security Council urging a ceasefire and an adherence to international humanitarian law by the occupying power, Geng said.
“The international community must pool all of its efforts to promote a ceasefire, alleviate the catastrophe and save lives,” he stressed.
The new round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has already lasted more than 80 days, has resulted in the deaths of more 20,000 people in Gaza and a serious humanitarian disaster.
China called for Israel to immediately stop its indiscriminate military attacks and collective punishment of the people in Gaza, and to provide the necessary conditions for humanitarian agencies to carry out assistance in the region, said Geng.
Saying Israel’s activities in the occupied territories of the West Bank violated the Security Council’s Resolution 2334 and seriously eroded the basis of the two-state solution, Geng urged Israel to fulfill its responsibilities as the occupying power by ceasing all activities in the settlements, curbing the escalation of violence, and thoroughly investigating and holding accountable the relevant incidents.
The crux of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in the fact that the two-state solution has not been realized and that the basic rights of the Palestinian people have not been safeguarded, Geng said.
China calls for an international peace conference that is more broad-based and effective to promote the formation of a timetable and road map for the implementation of the two-state solution, and supports Palestine in becoming a full member of the UN and the early resumption of direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel, the Chinese envoy added.
