Tracking Chinese Statements on the Hamas-Israel Conflict

In almost every conflict between Hamas and Israel, China’s messaging has followed a familiar pattern: urge all parties to exercise restraint, reiterate the importance of the two-state solution, and pledge commitment to supporting peace negotiations, typically through an international conference. Historically, Beijing has sought to balance its economic relationship with Israel against its desire to appear as a champion for the Palestinians on the global scene. Hence, even when its statements called out Israel explicitly, they tended to do so in the context of seeking broader de-escalation. During the 2012 conflict, for instance, China urged “all relevant parties, the Israeli side in particular, to exercise maximum restraint”; in 2014, it immediately called for a ceasefire and noted, “To counter violence with violence will not help resolve problems other than pile up more hatred”; and in 2021, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Beijing “strongly condemns violent acts against civilians and once again urges both parties to the conflict to immediately stop military and hostile actions...Israel must exercise restraint in particular.”

The latest Gaza war has seen a shift in these talking points. Besides the usual calls for implementing a ceasefire, returning to negotiations, and fulfilling the two-state solution, Beijing has been more direct in criticizing Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas attack—for instance, in an October 15, 2023, call with his Saudi counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang blasted Israel’s actions in Gaza as “beyond the scope of self-defense,” describing them as collective punishment. Beijing has also criticized U.S. votes in Israel’s favor at the United Nations, while official state media have amplified criticism of Israel and anti-Semitic tropes. In response, Israeli officials have expressed “deep disappointment” with China’s stance.

Below are notable Chinese government statements on the conflict so far, including the 2025 ceasefire agreement. As the situation develops and Beijing continues weighing in, The Washington Institute will update the tracker.

2023

Oct. 8: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot go on. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestinian question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace.”

Oct. 9: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China is closely following the escalating conflict between Palestine and Israel. We’re deeply saddened by the civilian casualties and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians. We oppose moves that escalate the conflict and destabilize the region and hope fighting will stop and peace will return soon.”

“On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has always been on the side of equity and justice. As a friend to both Israel and Palestine, what we hope to see is the two countries living together in peace and enjoying security and growth together. The key to achieving that lies in the realization of the two-state solution and establishment of an independent State of Palestine.”

Oct. 10: Special Envoy Zhai Jun calls Egyptian Foreign Ministry

“The root cause of the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel is that the Palestinian question still has not been settled in a just manner, and the fundamental way out lies in implementing the two-state solution. The international community should make earnest efforts to advance the two-state solution with the greatest sense of urgency. China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with Egypt, promote the two parties to the conflict to cease fire and end violence, encourage the international community to form synergy, and provide the Palestinian people with humanitarian support so as to avoid the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, in particular the Gaza Strip, from being even escalated.”

Oct. 11: Special Envoy Zhai Jun calls Palestinian Foreign Ministry

“China is deeply saddened by many innocent civilian casualties caused by the current escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict and deeply concerned over the serious deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Palestine. The most pressing task is to cease fire immediately and protect civilians. The international community should earnestly play its role to jointly promote the de-escalation of the situation and provide the Palestinian people with humanitarian assistance.”

Oct. 12: Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls chief advisor to the president of Brazil

“China supports the Security Council in holding an emergency meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, agrees that the meeting should focus on humanitarian concerns, demand a ceasefire, an end to violence and the protection of civilians, form a binding international consensus and take concrete next steps.”

Oct. 12: Special Envoy Zhai Jun calls Israel’s Foreign Ministry

“China condemns actions that harm innocent civilians, and calls for an early ceasefire and the end of violence, and resuming talks for peace on the basis of the ‘two-state solution’ to boost the two peoples’ confidence in achieving peace. The international community should play an effective role to avoid further escalation of the situation which will lead to humanitarian disasters. China does not have selfish interests in the Palestinian question, and has always been on the side of peace, equity and justice.”

Oct. 13: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference; statement by UN Ambassador Zhang Jun

“On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as I just said, China has always been on the side of equity and justice. We oppose acts that harm civilians and violate international law. We are committed to promoting peace talks and achieving a ceasefire and will continue to work for de-escalation and resumption of peace talks...Over the past few days, Special Envoy Zhai Jun has been having phone conversations with foreign ministry officials of Middle East countries, including Palestine, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to talk about the current tensions between Palestine and Israel. He called for efforts to cool down the situation, avoid [the] conflict’s expansion, protect civilians and prevent a humanitarian disaster due to the escalation. Special Envoy Zhai Jun stressed during the phone calls that to end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, the key is to return to the two-state solution as the basis, restore peace talks, establish an independent State of Palestine, and realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel. The international community needs to step up to that responsibility and create conditions for the resumption of the peace process.”

“China reiterates its call on all parties to exercise maximum restraints, and its support for all efforts to realize a ceasefire as soon as possible, so as to prevent further escalation of tensions and the spillover of the flames of war impacting regional and international security...The indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable, and neither Palestinian nor Israeli civilians should be targeted...Ambassador Zhang expressed China’s grave concerns about the consequences of Israel’s imposition of a full siege on Gaza and its order of a 24-hour emergency evacuation of the population in northern Gaza. China calls on Israel to heed the appeals of the international community and the UN secretary-general to stop the collective punishment of the people in Gaza, so as to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian disasters.”

Oct. 14: Wang Yi phone call with Saudi foreign minister

“Israel’s actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense, and Israel should heed the call of the international community and the Secretary-General of the United Nations and stop its group punishment to the people in Gaza. All parties should not take any action that will lead to escalation of the situation and should get back to the negotiating table as soon as possible...China believes that the historical injustice against Palestine has lasted for more than half a century and cannot go on.”

Oct. 14: Wang Yi phone call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken

“China calls for convening an international peace conference as soon as possible, to reach broad consensus...When dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, major countries should remain objective, fair and calm, exercise restraint, and take the lead in observing the international law...China will continue to promote peace talks in accordance with the basic principles put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping.”

Oct. 15: Wang Yi phone call with foreign minister of Iran

“China supports Islamic countries in strengthening solidarity and coordination and speaking with one voice on the Palestinian question. The international community should act and oppose moves that harm civilians by any party. The United Nations, especially the Security Council, should earnestly shoulder its responsibilities and play its due role...Such a historical injustice should be ended as soon as possible. China will continue to stand on the side of peace and justice, and support the Palestinian people’s just cause of safeguarding their national rights.”

Oct. 15: Wang Yi phone call with foreign minister of Turkey

“The right to self-defense should be exercised in accordance with international humanitarian law and should not be at the expense of innocent civilian casualties. Parties to the conflict should exercise restraint, cease fire, and end the war immediately, seek dialogue, and must guarantee the most basic living conditions of the people in the Gaza Strip, and open corridors for humanitarian assistance as soon as possible. The Palestinian question is always the core of the Middle East issue. If this question is not settled in a just and reasonable manner, it is impossible for the Middle East to realize lasting peace.”

Oct. 16: China’s ambassador to Bangladesh meets with Palestinian counterpart

“Regarding the question of Palestine, it is at the heart of the Middle East issue and a wound that keeps being torn open in today’s world. The root cause of this question lies in the long delay in realizing the dream of an independent State of Palestine and the failure to redress the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people. Israel has the right to statehood, so does Palestine. The Israelis have obtained the safeguards for survival, but who will care about the survival of the Palestinians? The Jewish nation is no longer homeless in the world, but when will the Palestinian nation return to its home? There is no shortage of injustices in the world, but the injustice to Palestine has dragged on for over half a century. The sufferings that plagued generations must not continue.”

Oct. 16: Wang Yi meets with Russian foreign minister

“China condemns all acts that harm civilians and opposes any violation of international law. It is necessary for the UN Security Council to take action and for big countries to play an active part. The pressing task is to cease fire and end the war, bring the two sides back to negotiation, and establish corridors for emergency humanitarian assistance to prevent more serious humanitarian disasters. The fundamental resolution is to activate the two-state solution as soon as possible so as to reach broader consensus and develop the timetable and roadmap for restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation.”

Oct. 17: UN Ambassador Zhang Jun explains vote; Wang Yi meets with UN secretary-general

“The latest escalation of conflicts between Palestine and Israel has caused massive civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters, with its spillover effects impacting regional peace and stability. China is deeply concerned about this...In light of this grave situation, China calls for stopping the fight as soon as possible, preventing it from spreading endlessly, and avoiding further deterioration of the situation.”

“China supports the UN in playing a bigger role, realizing ceasefire and de-escalation as soon as possible, getting back to the track of negotiation, and building broader international consensus on implementing the two-state solution. The three-point proposal put forth by President Xi Jinping on the Palestinian question is the fundamental guidance for China to deal with the Palestinian question, and China is ready to continue to strengthen coordination and communication with the UN in this endeavor.”

Oct. 18: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference on al-Ahli Hospital incident

“China is shocked by and strongly condemns the attack on the hospital in Gaza, which has caused massive casualties. We mourn for the victims and extend sympathies to the injured. China calls for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and every possible effort to protect civilians and avert an even worse humanitarian disaster.”

Oct. 18: UN Ambassador Zhang Jun UN vote statement and remarks at UN Security Council emergency briefing

“The ground situation in Gaza is quickly escalating. Yesterday’s airstrike on the al-Ahli Hospital resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths. China strongly condemns the airstrike against the hospital. We urge Israel to earnestly fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law. We call for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and avoid a greater humanitarian catastrophe...More and more civilians are paying the price. The [Security] Council should heed the just call of the Arab countries and the Palestinian people and fulfill its obligations and play its due role in promoting ceasefire, protecting civilians, and avoiding a greater humanitarian disaster.”

“As a result of the total siege imposed by Israel, the supply of water, electricity, and fuel in the Gaza Strip has been cut off. The basic supplies such as food and medicine are dwindling and urgently needed. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to move south because of the emergency evacuation order issued by Israel, only to suffer from airstrikes in the south as well...We call on Israel to lift the full blockade on Gaza, retrieve the emergency evacuation order, and stop the airstrikes around the Rafah crossing.”

Oct. 19: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China is deeply disappointed at the U.S. blocking the Security Council resolution. As tensions continue to escalate, the Security Council needs to listen to the call from the many Arab countries and the Palestinian people and live up to its duty and play its role in bringing about a ceasefire, protecting civilians, and averting an even worse humanitarian disaster.”

Oct. 19: Special Envoy Zhai Jun meets with Russian counterpart

“China and Russia have the same position on the Palestinian issue. China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to promote the de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible and play a positive role in resuming the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, truly implementing the ‘two-state solution,’ and promoting an early comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.”

Oct. 20: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“After the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out on October 7, more than 280 Chinese citizens were stranded in Sderot in southern Israel and faced high security risk. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the Chinese Embassy in Israel to act swiftly to organize their relocation and evacuation. With the concerted efforts on the ground and back home, the stranded Chinese nationals have all left Sderot. Some have returned to China on commercial flights. According to the numbers we have at this point, since the conflict broke out, over 1,000 Chinese nationals have left Israel for China or a third country. We will continue to work hard to assist our fellow citizens.”

Oct. 21: Special Envoy Zhai Jun attends the Cairo summit, meets with secretary-general of the Arab League

“The United Nations should promote the convening of a more authoritative and more influential international conference for peace at a larger scale as soon as possible, so as to pool international consensus for peace and work for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question at an early date.”

“China believes that military power is not a solution to the question, and combating violence with violence will only lead to a vicious tit-for-tat circle and create obstacles to the political settlement of the Palestinian question.”

Oct. 22: Special Envoy Zhai Jun visits Egypt

“China supports Egypt in opening up corridors for humanitarian rescue and assistance to Gaza. China has already provided the people in Gaza with emergency humanitarian rescue and assistance, and will continue to do that. China and Egypt share similar positions on the Palestinian question, and China is ready to work with Egypt to jointly promote the international community to form synergy for peace, and bring the Palestinian question back on the track of a political settlement at an early date.”

Oct. 23: Wang Yi speaks with Israeli foreign minister

“All countries have the right to self-defense, but they should respect international humanitarian law and protect the safety of civilians. The top priority now is to prevent the situation from further escalating and causing a more serious humanitarian disaster.”

Oct. 23: Wang Yi speaks with Palestinian foreign minister

“The only way out of the Palestinian question is to implement the two-state solution and ensure the Palestinian people’s right to subsistence, statehood and right to return. China calls for convening a more authoritative, broad-based and effective international peace conference as soon as possible to promote the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and to formulate a specific timetable and road-map to this end...China will continue to stand on the side of international fairness and justice, and make relentless efforts with the international community for a comprehensive, just and enduring solution to the Palestinian question at an early date.”

Oct. 24: Remarks by UN Ambassador Zhang Jun at Security Council briefing

“A comprehensive ceasefire must be pursued above all else. A ceasefire must be achieved without delay. This is the call made by Secretary-General Guterres. This is the call made by the leaders of Arab countries at the Cairo Summit on October 21. This is the call made by the WHO, WFP, and UNRWA, as well as humanitarian agencies that are carrying out relief work in Gaza...

“China calls for diplomatic efforts for the immediate release of hostages. At the same time, it should be pointed out that the indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable, that civilian facilities such as hospitals and schools should not and must not be the targets of military operations, and that the safety of UN staff and humanitarian and medical workers must be guaranteed. We call for a thorough investigation into the attack on al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, which resulted in heavy civilian casualties. We oppose the forced displacement and relocation of the population in Gaza. We urge Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and to immediately rescind the emergency evacuation order for northern Gaza...

“China has no self-interest on the question of Palestine. Any initiative that contributes to peace will receive China’s staunch support. Any endeavor that facilitates Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation will be pursued by China with all-out efforts. China will continue to stand on the side of international fairness and justice, on the side of international law, and on the side of the legitimate aspirations of the Arab and Islamic world.”

Oct. 25: UN Ambassador Zhang Jun responds to U.S.-sponsored Security Council draft resolution

“On Saturday evening, the US introduced a new draft resolution that set aside the consensus of the members, included many elements that were still deeply divisive, and went far beyond the humanitarian realm. Many Council members, including China, Russia, UAE, and Brazil, proposed amendments to the text. However, the sponsor, ignoring the major concerns of relevant members, made only cosmetic changes to the draft before the text was put in blue in order to rush the Council to vote on it. In terms of the content, the draft is seriously out of balance and confuses right and wrong. In terms of the approach, the draft was introduced in haste and lacked the consensus it deserved. In terms of the effect, the draft does not reflect the world’s strongest calls for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue.”

Oct. 26: Special Envoy Zhai Jun visits Saudi Arabia

“The current situation between Palestine and Israel is severe. China is saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict and the deteriorating humanitarian situation. China believes that only an early ceasefire and end of hostilities as well as the de-escalation of the situation can create the necessary conditions for a political settlement. To restart talks for peace between Palestine and Israel on the basis of the two-state solution is the only realistic way out to break the vicious cycle of the Palestine-Israel conflict. China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with Saudi Arabia, pool efforts to promote peace, and work for a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian question at an early date.”

Oct. 26: Wang Yi meets with Secretary Blinken

“Wang Yi said, what is of utmost urgency right now is to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe on a larger scale, and the fundamental way out is to implement the two-state solution. Major countries should remain calm, be objective, and uphold justice, while the United Nations should play its due role. China is ready to work with all parties to activate a mechanism for promoting peace, build broader international consensus on the implementation of the two-state solution, and discuss the provision of more effective international guarantees. Antony Blinken said, maintaining durable peace and stability in the Middle East region is in the interests of all parties. The United States shares the view that there is a need to return to and implement the two-state solution.”

Oct. 27: Wang Yi meets with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan

“The two sides had substantive and constructive strategic communication on China-U.S. relations, high-level exchanges between the two countries, the Palestine-Israel conflict, and other international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern. The two sides agreed to make joint efforts to clinch a meeting between the two heads of state in San Francisco.”

Oct. 30: Response to reports of anti-Semitism in Chinese social media

“The position of the Chinese government on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is very clear-cut. We call for ending the fighting as soon as possible, protecting civilians, establishing an independent state of Palestine, and realizing the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel based on the two-state solution. China’s laws unequivocally prohibit disseminating information on extremism, ethnic hatred, discrimination, and violence via the internet.”

Oct. 30: Special Envoy Zhai Jun visits Jordan

“China is deeply concerned about the current deteriorating situation in Gaza and the severe humanitarian crisis. The international community, the UN Security Council in particular, should take action and concrete measures to promote an early ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. At the same time, it is necessary to take a long-term view and create conditions for the resumption of the peace process in the Middle East on the basis of the two-state solution and ‘land for peace.’ The relevant draft resolution presented by Jordan on behalf of Arab countries at the emergency special session of the UN General Assembly was adopted with a high number of votes, reflecting the strong call from the international community, especially Arab and Islamic countries, for a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. As a co-sponsor of the draft resolution, China highly appreciates and supports Jordan’s important and unique role at this critical juncture.”

Nov. 1: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China is deeply shocked by the attacks on the refugee camps in Gaza and strongly condemns this. China calls for utmost calm and restraint from relevant parties, especially Israel, and urges them to implement the UN resolution adopted on October 27, stop fighting immediately, do everything possible to protect civilians, open up corridors for humanitarian assistance as soon as possible and avert an even worse humanitarian disaster. China will play a positive and constructive role at the UN Security Council to help end the fighting, ensure the safety of civilians and strive for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.” 

Nov. 1: Wang Yi speaks with Omani foreign minister

“Noting that the current situation in Gaza is deteriorating day by day, and the number of civilian casualties is rising, Wang Yi said, no responsible country with a conscience can allow such a tragedy to continue. A few days ago, an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution by an overwhelming majority, calling for an immediate humanitarian truce, reflecting the strong voice of the international community. China supports the convening of a more authoritative, broader and more effective international peace conference as soon as possible to push the Palestinian question back to the track of the two-state solution.” 

Nov. 3: Wang Yi phone call with Saudi foreign minister

“As the rotating chair of the Security Council this month, China will continue to do its best to restore peace, urge the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities, play its role, build consensus, and issue resolutions as soon as possible that will help alleviate the current crisis and safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people...Saudi Arabia is a regional power with important influence. China appreciates Saudi Arabia’s active promotion of the ‘two-state solution’ back then and looks forward to and believes that Saudi Arabia will continue to work with other Arab countries to make efforts to achieve regional peace. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Saudi Arabia and all parties, promote the convening of a more authoritative international peace conference as soon as possible, reach a new consensus and clarify specific steps for the implementation of the ‘two-state solution.’”

Nov. 6: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China’s position on the Palestinian question is consistent and clear. We support the establishment of an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital on the basis of relevant UN resolutions. China will work relentlessly with the international community to this end.”

Nov. 7: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“We extend our deep condolences over the loss of all civilian lives, including journalists and others, in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. China’s position on the conflict is consistent and clear. We stand on the side of peace, equity and justice. We call for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, opening of humanitarian aid corridors, de-escalation, and an early return to the right track of the two-state solution...

“Let me say that as the rotating president of the Security Council, China will continue to work with relevant parties to galvanize responsible Security Council action and play an active and constructive role in ceasing the hostilities, easing the humanitarian situation, and ultimately realizing durable Palestinian-Israeli peace through the two-state solution.” 

Nov. 9: Special Envoy Zhai Jun attends humanitarian conference for Gaza

“Zhai Jun highlighted the three pressing tasks. First, stop the fighting as soon as possible and prevent further deterioration of the situation; second, avoid a wider humanitarian disaster, make every effort to protect civilians, and open a humanitarian corridor; third, the international community should redouble diplomatic efforts to bring the crisis back to the track of political settlement. Zhai Jun pointed out that the lives of Palestinians and Israelis are equally important, and there should be no double standards. Since the outbreak of this round of conflict, China has conducted intensive communication with relevant parties, made every effort to cool down the situation, and provided cash assistance to the people of Gaza through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the Palestinian National Authority, as well as food, medicine, and other emergent humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip. China will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to quell the fighting in Gaza at an early date, ease the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and bring the Palestinian question back to the right track of the two-state solution.”

Nov. 13: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“The Saudi-African Summit and the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit sent a clear message of bringing about a ceasefire, protecting civilians, scaling up humanitarian assistance and implementing the two-state solution. This is welcomed by China. Since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, China has been in close communication with relevant parties to call for ceasefire and restoration of peace. On halting the current conflict, China’s position is very much similar to that of the vast Arab, Islamic and African developing countries. China will work with relevant parties to continue to work relentlessly to protect civilians, deescalate the situation, resume talks for peace and realize peace.”

Nov. 14: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“We are shocked by and strongly condemn the strike on the guesthouse for UN staff in southern Gaza. We mourn the UN staff members killed in this round of conflict. Violence does not bring true security. The use of force will not create lasting peace. The safety of UN staff members must be effectively protected. China calls on relevant parties to be cool-headed and exercise maximum self-restraint, comply with international law, earnestly implement the UNGA resolution adopted on October 27, immediately stop the fighting, and prevent a larger-scale humanitarian disaster.”

Nov. 17: Special Envoy Zhai Jun meets with Bahraini counterpart 

“Recently, the UN Security Council adopted its first resolution since the outbreak of the new round of the Palestine-Israel conflict. As the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for this month, China voted in favor of the resolution. The international community should act swiftly to build consensus and push the Palestinian question back onto the right track of the two-state solution.”

Nov. 20: Wang Yi holds talks with delegation of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers

“The pressing task now is to fully implement relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly and achieve an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. A ceasefire should not be a diplomatic rhetoric. It is a matter of life and death for the people in Gaza. A ceasefire should be achieved as a top priority. This is the pressing need of the people in Gaza, the wish of the overwhelming majority of countries, and the unanimous voice of all peace-loving people around the world. Parties concerned should earnestly abide by international law, especially international humanitarian law. China opposes any forced displacement and relocation of Palestinian civilians. Israel should stop its collective punishment of the people in Gaza and open humanitarian corridors as soon as possible to prevent a wider humanitarian disaster.”

Nov. 21: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference with delegation of Arab foreign ministers

“The delegation made China its first stop for international mediation, which reflects their trust in China and the tradition of mutual understanding and support between the two sides.

"The Chinese side outlined our proposal on addressing the current crisis in Gaza and resolving the Palestinian question: The pressing task now is to fully implement relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly and reach an immediate ceasefire. It is critical to abide by the international law, especially international humanitarian law. China opposes any forced displacement and relocation of Palestinian civilians. Any arrangement concerning the future and destiny of Palestine must be based on the consent of the Palestinian people and accommodate the legitimate concerns of regional countries. Any potential way to address the current situation must not deviate from the two-state solution and should be conducive to regional peace and stability. The UN Security Council needs to heed the call of Arab and Islamic countries and take responsible actions to deescalate the situation. As this month’s rotating president of the Security Council, China will continue to strengthen coordination with Arab and Islamic countries to build consensus and galvanize more meaningful Security Council action on the situation in Gaza. The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue. Without a just settlement of the Palestinian question, durable peace and stability will remain elusive for the Middle East.

"The foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries spoke highly of China’s long-standing just position on the Palestinian question and commended China’s work as the rotating Security Council president to make possible the first Security Council resolution since the current conflict broke out. They look forward to closer coordination with China to prevent the crisis from spreading and restart the peace talk process.”

Nov. 21: President Xi Jinping speech at BRICS special video summit on the Palestinian-Israeli issue

“Dear President Ramaphosa, dear colleagues: This summit is the first leaders’ meeting after the BRICS expansion. First of all, I would like to welcome the leaders of the new BRICS members and thank President Ramaphosa and the South African government for their efforts in this meeting. Under the current situation, it is very timely and necessary for the BRICS countries to make a voice of justice and peace on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. 

“The conflict in Gaza has lasted for more than a month, causing a large number of civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters, and showing a trend of expanding spillover. China is deeply concerned. The top priority is that all parties to the conflict must immediately cease fire and fighting, stop all violence and attacks against civilians, release detained civilians, and avoid more serious devastation. The second is to ensure the safe and smooth flow of humanitarian relief channels, provide more humanitarian assistance to the Gaza people, and stop forced relocation, water, electricity, and oil cuts, and other collective punishments against the Gaza people. Third, the international community must take practical measures to prevent the conflict from expanding and affecting the stability of the entire Middle East region. China supports the resolution passed on October 27 at the emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. As the rotating president of the United Nations Security Council, China presided over the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2712. All parties should implement the resolution’s requirements.

“The fundamental reason why the situation between Palestine and Israel has developed to this day is that the Palestinian people’s rights to statehood, survival, and return have been ignored for a long time. I have emphasized many times that the fundamental way to resolve the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflicts is to implement the ‘two-state solution,’ restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation, and establish an independent Palestinian state. Without a fair solution to the Palestinian issue, there will be no lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. China calls for a more authoritative international peace conference to be convened as soon as possible to build international consensus on promoting peace and to promote an early, comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.

“Since the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, China has actively promoted peace talks and promoted a ceasefire and an end to the war. In order to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, China has provided $2 million in emergency humanitarian assistance through the Palestinian National Authority and United Nations agencies, provided food, medicine, and other emergency humanitarian supplies worth 15 million yuan to the Gaza Strip through Egypt...Material assistance will continue to be provided based on the needs of the Gaza people. As the rotating president of the United Nations Security Council this month, China has pushed the Security Council to pass relevant resolutions, requiring the extension of the humanitarian moratorium and humanitarian corridors, the protection of civilians, and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

“Dear colleagues! The BRICS cooperation mechanism is an important platform for emerging market countries and developing countries to strengthen unity and cooperation and safeguard common interests. Today, we coordinated our positions and took actions on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, making a good start for the ‘Greater BRICS Cooperation’ after the expansion. China appreciates South Africa’s important contribution to promoting the development of BRICS as this year’s chairmanship. Russia will take over the presidency next year, and China is willing to work with other members to support Russia’s work and create a new era of BRICS cooperation. Thank you all!” 

November 22: Ambassador Li Song speaks at International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting on Israeli nuclear issue

“The Middle East should not be subject to the threat of nuclear weapons. This is a common call from the countries of the region. The establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East is conducive to curbing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, preserving the authority and effectiveness of the international non-proliferation regime, reducing arms-race and conflict risks, and providing an important mechanism that will ensure lasting peace and security in the region.

“China always advocates for the strengthening of universality, authority, and effectiveness of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), supports the countries in the Middle East in promoting the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in accordance with the UNGA resolutions as well as relevant documents of the NPT Review Conference, and supports intensification of relevant international efforts through implementing the IAEA General Conference resolution ‘Application of Safeguards in the Middle East.’ On November 13, the fourth session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction was held in the UN Headquarters in New York. China attended the conference as an observer and made constructive contributions to the conference.

“China calls upon all countries in the Middle East to fulfill NPT obligations in good faith [and] sign and approve the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol as soon as possible. Israel should join the NPT as a non-Nuclear-Weapon State at [the] earliest possible date and place all its nuclear facilities under the comprehensive safeguards of IAEA. Countries in the region and the Nuclear-Weapons States should take up their due responsibilities and join the process of establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction within the framework of the UN.”

November 22: Ambassador Li Song speaks at IAEA Board of Governors meeting on Palestinian-Israeli issue

“The conflict in Gaza is raging on into its second month. China is gravely concerned that the conflict is causing enormous civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster, and tends to expand and spill over. China has been working actively to promote peace, provide humanitarian assistance and facilitate a ceasefire. Last week, under China’s presidency, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2712, which calls for extended humanitarian pauses and corridors, the protection of civilians, and the provision of humanitarian assistance. This week, the delegation of Arab-Islamic foreign ministers visited China. Yesterday, President Xi Jinping attended the extraordinary joint meeting of BRICS leaders and leaders of invited BRICS members on the situation in the Middle East with particular reference to Gaza.”

November 22: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“Since this round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, China has been calling for a ceasefire and working to deescalate the situation, protect civilians, and provide humanitarian assistance. We welcome the agreement and hope this will help ease the humanitarian crisis, deescalate the conflict, and cool down the tensions.”

November 27: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“Since Israel and Hamas reached the ceasefire agreement, both sides have released three groups of detainees. Steps towards peace, however small, should be encouraged. Difficulties in protecting civilians, however daunting, must be overcome with every possible effort. This round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict has continued for more than 50 days, causing great casualties and serious humanitarian disasters. As we have repeatedly stressed, violence does not bring true security and the use of force will not create lasting peace. China welcomes all efforts that are conducive to bringing about ceasefire and deescalating the situation. We urge parties to the conflict to earnestly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2712 and the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly at its emergency special session, jointly and effectively implement the temporary ceasefire agreement and enable it to be extended, and realize a true and lasting ceasefire.”

Nov. 30: President Xi sends congratulatory message to UN special commemorative meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

“Xi Jinping pointed out that the...root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the fact that the realization of the legitimate national right of Palestinians to establish an independent State of Palestine is long overdue. There can be no sustainable security without security for all: this is a hard lesson learned from the cycle of repeated Palestinian-Israeli conflicts. The international community must act now and urgently. The United Nations Security Council must take on its responsibility and do all it can to push for ceasefire, protect civilians, and end the humanitarian disaster. Palestinian-Israeli peace talks should be resumed on that basis as soon as possible. The Palestinians’ right to statehood, right to existence, and right of return must be realized at the earliest date.

“Xi Jinping emphasized that China has all along firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate national rights. The fundamental solution to the question of Palestine lies in the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border and with east Jerusalem as its capital. The economic needs of Palestine and its people’s living necessities must be guaranteed. The international community should provide more development assistance and humanitarian support for Palestine. It is important to keep to the right direction of peace talks. A more authoritative international conference for peace should be convened as soon as possible. China has put forward the Global Security Initiative, and is of the view that disagreements and disputes between nations should be resolved through dialogue and consultation. China supports all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises. On the question of Palestine, China will continue to speak up for fairness and justice, promote talks for peace, and provide humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continue to work with the rest of the international community to build consensus for peace, get the question of Palestine back on the right track of the two-state solution, and seek an early resolution that is comprehensive, just, and durable.”

Dec. 6: Wang Yi phone call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken 

“Wang Yi said that the top priority is to cease fire and end the war as soon as possible. At the crossroads of war and peace, major countries must adhere to fairness and justice, uphold objectivity and impartiality, demonstrate calmness and rationality, and make every effort to cool down the situation and prevent larger-scale humanitarian disasters. Any solution to the current crisis in Gaza cannot deviate from the ‘two-state solution,’ and any arrangement involving the future of Palestine must reflect the will of the Palestinian people. China believes that the core of the solution is to respect Palestine’s right to statehood and self-determination, embodying ‘Palestinian ownership, Palestinian leadership, and Palestinian rule.’ China is willing to work with all parties to make efforts to this end.”

Dec. 11: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“Over the past two months since the outbreak of this round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Gaza has seen close to 20,000 civilians die from the fights and over one million people displaced. Ceasefire and end of hostilities is currently the top priority and reflects extensive international aspiration. Close to 100 countries, including China, co-sponsored the draft resolution tabled by the UAE representing Arab countries. We regret and are disappointed at the US veto—the only veto on the Security Council draft resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. [Allowing the conflict to continue] means heavier civilian casualties and worse humanitarian catastrophe, and will sow more seeds of hatred. On issues of war and peace, life and death, major countries with influence need to play a constructive role in helping end the fight, make utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties, and stand on the side of peace and the side of life.”

2024

Jan. 8: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“During the past three months, the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict has taken nearly 23,000 lives in Gaza, including over 100 media workers. According to [the] relevant UN agency, nearly 90 percent of people in Gaza have been displaced. Despite the repeated international call for ceasefire, the fighting is still raging and killing innocent civilians every day. China strongly calls on relevant parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to exercise restraint, faithfully implement relevant UN resolutions, start an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, and prevent such tragedies from reoccurring.”

Jan. 29: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China noted the provisional measures issued by the [International Court of Justice]. The order, supported by the majority of judges of the court, responds to the international community’s concern [about] protecting civilians, deescalating the situation, and easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We hope that the ICJ’s provisional measures can be effectively implemented. China’s position on the Palestinian question is consistent and clear. We condemn all acts against civilians and oppose all moves that violate international law. China urges parties to the conflict to realize a comprehensive ceasefire at once, abide by international humanitarian law, and prevent an even worse humanitarian disaster from happening. The fundamental way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement the two-state solution and promote the comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.”

Feb. 13: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China is closely watching the developments in Rafah. We oppose and condemn acts against civilians and international law. We call on Israel to stop military operations as soon as possible, do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians, and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah.”

Feb. 22: Remarks before the ICJ by Ma Xinmin, director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Treaty and Law, relating to the request for an advisory opinion on the issue of occupied Palestinian territory

“The Palestinian-Israeli conflict stems from Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territory and Israel’s long-standing oppression of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people fight against Israeli oppression, and their [struggles to complete] the establishment of an independent state on the occupied territories are, essentially, just actions for restoring their legitimate rights. The right to self-determination serves as the precise legal foundation for their struggle.

“Let me clarify that self-determination only applies to two scenarios, namely peoples under colonial domination or foreign occupation. Under no circumstances does the right to self-determination afford any basis for any part or group within a sovereign state to claim a so-called ‘right to secession.’ International law does not recognize the existence of a right to so-called ‘remedial secession’ or ‘remedial self-determination.’ The Palestinian people, being a group residing in territory under foreign domination, is a sui generis international legal person as a whole. The right to self-determination of the Palestinian people has been consistently reaffirmed in multiple United Nations resolutions and the Wall Advisory Opinion. This is also widely recognized by most states and international organizations.

“In pursuit of the right to self-determination, the Palestinian people’s use of force to resist foreign oppression and to complete the establishment of an independent state is an inalienable right well founded in international law. Various peoples freed themselves from colonial rule and foreign oppression to realize independent statehood after World War II. Their practices serve as convincing evidence for this right. Numerous UNGA resolutions recognize the legitimacy of struggling by all available means, including armed struggle, by peoples under colonial domination or foreign occupation to realize the right to self-determination. For instance, the UNGA resolution 3070 of 1973 ‘reaffirms the legitimacy of the people’s struggle for liberation from colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation by all available means, including armed struggle.’ This recognition is also reflected in international conventions. For example, the Arab Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism of 1998 affirms ‘the right of peoples to combat foreign occupation and aggression by whatever means, including armed struggle, in order to liberate their territories and secure their right to self-determination, and independence.’

“Armed struggle in this context is distinguished from acts of terrorism. It is grounded in international law. This distinction is acknowledged by several international conventions. For example, Article 3 of the Organization of African Unity Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism of 1999 provides that ‘the struggle waged by peoples in accordance with the principles of international law for their liberation or self-determination, including armed struggle against colonialism, occupation, aggression, and domination by foreign forces, shall not be considered as terrorist acts.’ It should be emphasized that the use of force by any entity or individual in the name of exercising the right to self-determination outside the context of colonial domination or foreign occupation is not legitimate. Meanwhile, during legitimate armed struggle by peoples, all parties are obliged to comply with international humanitarian law and, in particular, to refrain from committing acts of terrorism in violation of international humanitarian law.”

Feb. 23: Foreign Ministry readout of Ma Xinmin’s remarks before the ICJ

“Based on China’s policy position on the Palestinian question, [Ma Xinmin] elaborated on China’s views and propositions on legal issues such as the Court’s advisory jurisdiction, the right of nations to self-determination, the law on the use of force, and international humanitarian law. This marked the second time that China participated in an oral proceeding before the ICJ relating to the request for an advisory opinion, following its participation in the oral proceeding before the ICJ relating to the request for an advisory opinion on the issue of the independence of Kosovo in 2009.”

Feb. 26: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“The escalation of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict has resulted in the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Nearly 30,000 civilians were killed and about 1.9 million people were displaced. An immediate ceasefire is the prevailing call and overwhelming consensus of the international community. The US should lend an ear and take concrete actions to play a constructive role for the ceasefire and de-escalation of the humanitarian crisis.”

Feb. 26: Wang Yi remarks at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council

“Wang Yi said protecting and promoting human rights is a common cause for all humanity. At the moment, the world is becoming more turbulent, crises and conflicts keep flaring up, and [the] deficit in global human rights governance is widening. The ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict has cost the lives of nearly 30,000 civilians and left close to two million people displaced. The situation is indeed saddening. It falls upon the entire international community to protect the human rights of all ethnic groups and all people in a fair, equal, and effective way."

Mar. 1: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference, in answer to a question about Palestinian casualties at a food distribution site in Gaza City 

“China is shocked by and strongly condemns the incident. We mourn for the victims and extend sympathies to the injured. China urges parties concerned, especially Israel, to stop fighting at once, earnestly protect civilians and ensure access for humanitarian assistance to prevent an even worse humanitarian disaster from happening.”

Mar. 12: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“The latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict has lasted for over five months, which has outlasted previous Middle East wars except the first Middle East war and has killed more people, especially civilians, than previous Middle East wars. As a Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed, this is a tragedy for humanity and a disgrace for civilization. The killing of civilians in Gaza must be stopped. Injustice done to the Palestinian people must be corrected. The double standards against human rights and international humanitarian law must be abandoned. The longer the flames in Gaza flare up, the more the humanity is scourged by conscience, the more the cornerstone of justice is eroded. The international community must act urgently to set the immediate ceasefire as an overwhelming priority and the humanitarian aid in Gaza as a pressing moral responsibility.”

Mar. 20: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“Since the outbreak of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has striven for a ceasefire, effective protection of civilians and deescalation of the humanitarian crisis. Recently, Ambassador Wang Kejian visited Egypt, Palestine, Israel and Qatar in the Middle East for the early deescalation of the situation in Gaza. Relevant parties widely appreciated China’s just position and active efforts to achieve a ceasefire, ease the humanitarian situation, and avoid the further spillover of the conflict. They look to China playing a greater role in deescalating the conflict and cooling down the situation. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, we have maintained close communication and coordination with the Arab countries, built broad-based consensus with relevant parties in the international community, and promoted the comprehensive ceasefire with the greatest sense of urgency. We have closely followed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and have already provided multiple batches of emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza through bilateral and multilateral channels. China has actively encouraged all factions in Palestine to achieve internal reconciliation through dialogue and firmly supported ‘the Palestinians governing Palestine.’ We have contributed to the UN Security Council’s adoption of the first resolution in this regard since the outbreak of the conflict, released the Position Paper of the People’s Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, and fully promoted more responsible and meaningful actions by the UNSC. We call for Palestine’s full membership in the UN and a more broad-based, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to work out a timetable and road map for the two-state solution. China will continue to work with the international community to restore peace, save lives, and uphold justice.” 

Apr. 2: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference, in answer to a question about Israel’s Apr. 1 attack on Iranian military officials in Damascus 

“China condemns the attack on the Iranian Embassy in Syria. The security of diplomatic institutions should not be violated and Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected. Amid the ongoing turbulence in the Middle East, we oppose any act that would escalate the tensions.”

Apr. 14: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference, in answer to a question about Iran’s Apr. 13 missile and drone attack on Israel 

“China expresses deep concern over the current escalation and calls on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations. The ongoing situation is the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict. There should be no more delays in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2728, and the conflict must end now. China calls on the international community, especially countries with influence, to play a constructive role for the peace and stability of the region.”

Apr. 16: President Xi meets with German chancellor

“President Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing this morning. The two leaders exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual interest. The two sides agreed to send the following joint messages...On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China and Germany are concerned about the grave humanitarian situation facing people in Gaza and the risk of further escalation of [the] regional situation. China and Germany jointly call for: ensuring unimpeded and sustainable humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip and supporting the coordinating role of the UN and UNRWA in humanitarian aid; implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2728; implementing the two-state solution as the only way to achieve lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians; jointly maintaining the safety of commercial shipping in line with international law, particularly in the Red Sea.”

Apr. 19: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is still persisting. A severe humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Gaza. The US denied Palestine’s full UN membership, but it can’t deny the region’s call for immediate ceasefire, the Gazans’ need for humanitarian aid, and the global desire for a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. The international community needs to fully implement relevant UNSC and UNGA resolutions, fully respect the will of the Palestinian people, return to the two-state solution and establish an independent State of Palestine at an early date. Only by doing so can there be peace between Palestine and Israel, harmony between Arab and Jewish peoples, and lasting peace in the Middle East. On the question of Palestine, China always stands on the side of peace, justice and human conscience. China firmly supports full UN membership for Palestine, and will continue to work relentlessly and constructively with relevant parties to bring an early end to the fighting in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, and implement the two-state solution.”

Apr. 25: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“As the Palestinian-Israeli conflict drags on, the severe humanitarian disaster continues. Humanitarian aid is the lifeline for people in Gaza, and UNRWA is an indispensable pillar of this lifeline. The UN report vindicated UNRWA’s reputation on neutrality and presented recommendations on improving its work. We support the UN in improving UNRWA’s work, oppose the unjustified attacks on UNRWA, and call for quickly restoring funding to UNRWA by those who have yet to do so. China will step up support to UNRWA and contribute to the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

May 7: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“China is gravely concerned over Israel’s plan to carry out [a] ground military operation in Rafah. We strongly call on Israel to listen to the overwhelming appeal of the international community, stop attacking Rafah, and do everything possible to avoid an even worse humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.”

May 10: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China strongly condemns the attacks on the Jordanian humanitarian aid convoys. The actions violate the international law and international humanitarian law. The protracted conflict has made the humanitarian situation extremely dire in Gaza. We urge Israel to earnestly fulfill its obligations under...international humanitarian law, and cooperate with and provide security safeguard for humanitarian agencies’ aid effort.”

May 28: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“China is gravely concerned over Israel’s military operation in Rafah. We noted that the UN International Court of Justice has for the third time delivered the order for provisional measures on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and for the first time explicitly asked for ceasing the military offensive in relevant region. This reflects the world’s consensus on and strong call for an urgent ceasefire, protection of civilians and deescalation of the humanitarian crisis. Relevant provisional measures should be effectively implemented as soon as possible.

“China’s position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is consistent and clear. We oppose any action that violates international law, including international humanitarian law. We ask all parties to protect civilians and civilian facilities, and strongly urge Israel to heed the call of the international community and stop the offensive on Rafah. The world needs to work together to deescalate and end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

May 30: President Xi keynote speech at opening ceremony of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) 

“The Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings. War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever. Commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will. China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. It supports Palestine’s full membership in the UN, and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. On top of the previous RMB100 million yuan of emergency humanitarian assistance, China will provide an additional RMB500 million yuan of assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction. We will donate US$3 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East [UNRWA] in support of its emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza.”

July 23: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference following Palestinian reconciliation talks

“At China’s invitation, senior representatives of 14 Palestinian factions held reconciliation talks in Beijing from July 21 to 23. This morning, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and addressed the closing session of the talks. The Palestinian factions signed the Beijing declaration on ending division and strengthening Palestinian national unity. 

“This is the first time that all 14 Palestinian factions gathered in Beijing and held talks for reconciliation. It brings precious hope for the Palestinian people who have suffered for too long. The declaration commends China’s sincere effort to support the rights of the Palestinians, end division and bring about a unified position among the Palestinian factions. The declaration stresses the need to hold, under the auspices of the UN, an international conference with a full mandate and broad-based participation from the region and beyond. According to the declaration, parties believe that the Beijing talks demonstrated a positive and constructive spirit, and agree to realize national unity among all factions under the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. The declaration reaffirms commitment to establishing an independent State of Palestine with Jerusalem as the capital city based on relevant UN resolutions and ensuring the integrity of Palestinian territory including the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza. Parties are ready to, in line with the consensus of Palestinian factions and the existing basic law of Palestine, establish an interim national reconciliation government, carry out reconstruction in Gaza and prepare and hold a general election as soon as possible in accordance with the adopted election laws. Parties stressed the need to take practical steps to form a new Palestinian national council in line with the adopted election laws. Parties unanimously agreed to activate the provisional Unified Leadership framework which will function institutionally, and jointly carry out political decision-making. Parties agreed to set up a collective mechanism to fully implement the provisions of the declaration and create a timetable for the implementation process.

“As Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in his remarks, the most important consensus of the talks is to achieve reconciliation and unity among all 14 factions, the most central outcome is the reaffirmation of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, the most outstanding highlight is the consensus on post-conflict governance in Gaza and forming an interim national reconciliation government, and the strongest aspiration is to realize true independent statehood of Palestine in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.

“In his remarks, Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forward China’s three-step initiative regarding the ongoing Gaza conflict. First step: achieving comprehensive, lasting and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, and ensuring unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and rescue on the ground. Second step: making joint efforts toward post-conflict governance of Gaza under the principle of ‘the Palestinians governing Palestine.’ Third step: making Palestine a full UN member state and beginning to implement the two-State solution. These three steps are interlocked and all of them are indispensable.

“China and Palestine are each other’s trusted brothers and partners. China looks forward to the day when Palestinian factions achieve internal reconciliation and, on that basis, realize national unity and independent statehood as early as possible. We will continue to work relentlessly to this end with the relevant parties.”

Aug. 1: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference following the targeted killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran

“We are closely following the incident. China firmly opposes and condemns the act of assassination and is deeply concerned that the incident may plunge the region into greater turmoil. China has been calling for settling regional disputes through negotiation and dialogue and an early, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and there should be no more escalation of the conflict and confrontation.”

Aug. 12: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference after an Israeli strike on a school in Gaza 

“China is gravely concerned over the relevant military operation of Israel which caused massive civilian casualties in Gaza. We condemn all acts that harm civilians, oppose all moves that violate international humanitarian law, and call on Israel to heed the call of the international community, stop the hostilities at once, do everything possible to protect civilians and avoid further escalation in the region. The international community needs to make more effort together to alleviate and end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”

Aug. 14: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference after the killing of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh

“China has been calling for international efforts to bring an early end to the conflict in Gaza as soon as possible and prevent further spillover. China plays an active role in easing regional tensions. We support all efforts that contribute to permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, and will work with the international community to deescalate the situation and avoid further escalation of the conflict and confrontation.”

Aug. 22: Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at a UN Security Council briefing

“Gaza has been subjected to more than 10 months of blockade, siege, bombing, and attacks that have killed more than 40,000 people and displaced 1.9 million. 80% of homes in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, and 85% of the area is under emergency evacuation orders imposed by the Israeli military. In the West Bank, nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed since last October. Such a tragedy cannot go on any longer.

“The international community has repeatedly sent clear calls for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting. And the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice have all made clear demands. However, we have seen that Israel has turned a deaf ear to them and has not shown any sign of a ceasefire. More than two months after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2735, the Israeli military operations in Gaza continue causing new casualties every day. At the same time, the repeated provocative and adventurous actions by the Israeli side have intensified the risk of conflict spillovers. The Middle East is hanging by a thread. 

“It must be noted that blind faith in achieving a total victory in Gaza will only result in more innocent civilian casualties and will not create the conditions for the release of hostages, nor will it bring peace or tranquility to Israel and the region. Ceasefire negotiations and a political solution are the fundamental way out. It must be noted that humanitarian issues cannot be politicized, hunger cannot be weaponized, and civilian lives cannot be trivialized as bargaining chips. Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law by opening all border crossings, guaranteeing rapid and safe access to humanitarian supplies at scale, ceasing restrictions and attacks on the United Nations and humanitarian agencies, and providing support and cooperation for the polio vaccination program in Gaza. It must be noted that sustainable security can only be achieved by upholding the concept of common security. Regional peace must be built with the responsible participation of all parties. Achieving an independent Palestinian state and implementation of the two-State solution is the only viable way forward for the political settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli question.

“China urges Israel to immediately cease all military operations in Gaza, to immediately stop its actions that stoke escalation of the situation in the region, and to end immediately placing obstacles to a ceasefire in Gaza. We urge countries with significant influence to demonstrate a sincere, impartial, and responsible attitude in pushing Israel to cease its military operations in Gaza as soon as possible and to stop the killing of civilians. China supports the Council in taking further necessary actions to promote the implementation of the relevant resolutions and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. 

“China stands ready to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to end the war in Gaza at an early date, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, implement the two-State solution, and achieve lasting peace and security in the Middle East.”

Aug. 22: Consular affairs notice issued by the Chinese embassy in Lebanon

“Recently, the situation on the Lebanon-Israel border has remained tense, and the security situation in Lebanon is severe and complex. At present, the travel risk level in Lebanon’s southern and Nabatiyya provinces is red (extremely high risk), and other areas are orange (high risk). The Chinese Embassy in Lebanon reminds Chinese citizens in Lebanon to pay close attention to the development of the local situation, further enhance safety awareness, and return to China or leave the country as soon as possible while commercial flights are still in operation to avoid risks and ensure safety. Those who need to continue to stay in Lebanon should remain highly vigilant, effectively strengthen security precautions and emergency preparedness, and avoid going to high-risk areas and sensitive areas in the south.”

Aug. 27: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference after journalists in Gaza were injured

“We’ve stated China’s position more than once. China opposes all acts that harm civilians and condemns violence against journalists. We strongly call on relevant parties to stop the fighting and protect civilians.”

Aug. 29: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference following Israeli raids that resulted in eleven Palestinian deaths 

“China is closely following the current situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We are deeply concerned about the escalation in the West Bank. China opposes actions that fuel tensions, and condemns all attacks on civilians. We call upon all the parties concerned, Israel in particular, to remain calm and exercise restraint, and prevent further escalation and deterioration of the situation.”

Aug. 29: Remarks by Permanent Representative Geng Shuang at a UN Security Council briefing 

“Over 10 months have passed since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, which has led to the death of over 40,000 civilians and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Despite the repeated calls by the international community for an end to the fighting, the multiple resolutions adopted by the Security Council in this regard, and provisional measures ordered by the ICJ, the situation has not seen any improvement. Rather, it continues to worsen.

“In the past month alone, the conflict has consumed the lives of over 1,000 people in Gaza. Israel issued 16 emergency evacuation orders. Schools and refugee camps that sheltered a large number of people were targeted in attacks. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee time and again, unable to find a safe place of living. Israel continued to further suppress and restrict the UN and other humanitarian organizations, frequently rejecting deliveries of supplies such as fuel. Recently, humanitarian agencies were compelled to evacuate from their centers and warehouses in Deir al-Balah, further causing serious damage to the humanitarian system in Gaza.

“The polio virus seriously threatens the health of children in Gaza. Vaccination is the most effective way to stem the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of children. Virus knows no borders. China supports the appeal by Secretary-General Guterres and urges Israel, in a responsible manner towards its own children and those of the region, to provide security guarantee and facilitation to the vaccination work. We support the Council in making a strong appeal to this end to avoid further worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“In the West Bank, Israel continues to violate international law and Council resolutions, its settlements continue to grow, and it ramps up searches, arrests, and raids against Palestinians. Since last October, over 620 Palestinians have lost their lives. Yesterday, the Israeli military launched a large scale military operation targeting Tulkarm, Jenin, and Tubas, among others in the West Bank, which resulted in at least 10 deaths and many injuries. China strongly condemns this. Senior Israeli officials in the government recently spoke of using the same approach in the West Bank as they have employed in operations in Gaza. We are shocked and seriously concerned by such extreme remarks that risk global condemnation. Gaza has now turned into hell on earth. We must never allow the same humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza to happen in the West Bank, which will turn the West Bank into another hell on earth. China opposes any rhetoric or action that fuels tensions, condemns all attacks on civilians, and calls on all the parties concerned, Israel in particular, to remain calm and exercise restraint and prevent further escalation of the situation.”

Sep. 2: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“China expresses deep regret for the death of the six captives. The pressing imperative is to fully implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, bring about an immediate ceasefire, and create conditions for the early release of those held captive. We will continue working with the international community to play a constructive role in efforts towards deescalation.”

Sep. 4: Remarks by Permanent Representative Geng Shuang at a UN Security Council briefing

“The six hostages who perished in Gaza are distressing. The tragic end that befell them evokes sympathy. China condemns all violence against civilians and denounces all violations of international law and international humanitarian law. We repeat our call for greater diplomatic effort towards the immediate release of all detainees, be they Israeli or Palestinian, so that they can go home without further delay. 

“The stark reality speaks volumes about the futility of attempts to win a ‘total victory’ by prolonging the war, which is at best wishful thinking. The use of force will not pave the way for hostage release. It will only aggregate antagonism and make the confrontations more intense and the situation more volatile. The Israeli leadership should listen to the public’s forceful appeals, give top priority to securing the release of hostages and saving lives, and do their utmost to make the ceasefire happen and end the war. We call on the countries that hold sway over the parties concerned to show good faith and a responsible attitude by taking tangible actions to put out the flames of war in Gaza. 

“Every life matters, and no one deserves to be deprived of their right to live. We commend the WHO and other humanitarian agencies that are going against all odds to provide polio vaccination for Gazan children. These children have the same right to grow up healthily as their peers elsewhere in the world. They look forward to a childhood they can enjoy in safety and with enough food to eat. They should not continue to face the deadly threat of lethal weapons after receiving vaccination.

“Next week will mark the 11th month of the conflict in Gaza. Despite repeated international efforts and repeated international calls for a ceasefire and an end to all hostilities, there is still no sign of easing or de-escalation. Rather, what we do see is the continued escalation of the situation in the West Bank in addition to what is going on in Gaza. The international community must not allow the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza to be repeated in the West Bank. China urges the parties, Israel in particular, to show calm and restraint and fulfill its obligations as the occupying power, halt settler activities, stop attacks in the West Bank, and respect and maintain the status quo shaped by history of the holy sites in Jerusalem. This war has been raging for too long. Ceasefire negotiations have been delayed for too long. And the suffering of the population has persisted for too long time. It’s time to put an end to all these. We support the Security Council in taking further actions to implement the relevant Council resolutions, put out the flames of war without delay, and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe.” 

Sep. 12: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“Premier Li Qiang noted that China is ready to step up policy coordination with the GCC through mechanisms including the China-GCC strategic dialogue, and support countries in the region in resolving differences through dialogue and consultation and building lasting friendly ties between neighbors. The GCC side expressed high appreciation to China for our just position on the Palestinian question and other regional issues, and our support for peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Sep. 16: Remarks by Permanent Representative Geng Shuang at a UN Security Council briefing 

“We are now near the first anniversary of the conflict in Gaza. Over the past year, despite strong joint international calls for a ceasefire and the cessation of killings, Israel has not halted its military operations, which have led to the death of over 41,000 Palestinian civilians. This is alarming. This is past belief. The Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. But why has it been unable to stop this human tragedy, the worst of its kind to this day? As the analysis points out, had the United States not stood in the way on all those occasions, the Council could have adopted a resolution demanding a ceasefire early on after the conflict erupted. Had the US not shielded one side time and again, multiple resolutions of this Council would not have been flagrantly rejected and defied. We urge the US to show a responsible attitude, use the significant influence it holds over the party, and take tangible actions to push Israel to cease its military operations without delay, as demanded by the Council resolutions, to give the long suffering Palestinian people a chance to live. China supports further actions on the part of this Council to put out the flames of war, mitigate the humanitarian disaster, and bring peace to the region as soon as possible.”

Sep. 17: Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at an emergency session of the UN General Assembly

“The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been dragging on for over seven decades. Generations of Palestinians have lost their homes and been displaced. This is a gaping wound of the world today. Decades of occupation and oppression have inflicted untold sufferings on the Palestinian people, and made the long-cherished dream of independent statehood ever more elusive. 

“Ending the occupation is not an option, but a legal obligation for Israel. The International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion issued on July 19, unequivocally concluded that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is a violation of international law which impedes the realization of self-determination of the Palestinian people, and that Israel is under an obligation to immediately bring to an end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territories. The advisory opinion of the ICJ affirms the long-standing consensus of the international community and pinpoints the crux of the Palestinian question. We urge Israel to heed the strong call of the international community by immediately ending its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. 

“Ending the occupation is to redress historical injustice and, more importantly, lay the foundation for peace. Independent statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people as a nation, which is unquestionable and undeniable. The prolonged illegal occupation has hindered the realization of self-determination of the Palestinian people and given Israel an exclusive veto over Palestine. This is unacceptable. History offers ample proof that occupation would not make Israel more secure, but would only breed more hatred and antagonism and sow the seeds of instability throughout the Middle East. Only a complete end to the occupation and the establishment of the Independent state of Palestine will truly make it possible for Palestine and Israel to live side by side in peace, for the two peoples to live together in peace and tranquility, and for lasting peace to be achieved in the Middle East.

“The implementation of the two-State solution is the only viable way to resolve the question of Palestine. This is the broad consensus of the international community. It is worrying to hear Israel’s repeated rhetoric rejecting the two-State solution. The 11 month-long conflict in Gaza has made the prospect of the two-State solution even more remote. The international community should make greater efforts and demand that Israel implement the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, cease its military operations in Gaza, and stop its illegal settlement activities in the West Bank. China advocates the convening of a more broad-based and effective international peace conference to revitalize the political prospects of the two-State solution and to work out a timetable and a roadmap for its implementation. 

“Today is a historic moment. The State of Palestine has taken a seat among Member States and introduced a draft resolution to the General Assembly that focuses on the implementation of the advisory opinion of the ICJ. China will vote in favor of the drafter resolution. We hope that this GA resolution will give new impetus to ending the occupation, implementing the two-State solution, and advocating the Middle East peace process.”

Sep. 19: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference 

“China welcomes and appreciates the adoption by an overwhelming margin of the resolution draft on the advisory opinion concerning Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory at the UNGA emergency special session. China supports the draft and voted in favor, and hopes that it will be fully implemented.

“It has been almost a year since the ongoing conflict in Gaza broke out. Despite the four emergency special sessions on the question of Palestine held at the UNGA, the four resolutions adopted by the Security Council, the ICJ orders on provisional measures, and the repeated strong call of the international community for a ceasefire, the fighting is still raging in Gaza and casualties of innocent civilians skyrocket every day, causing a severe humanitarian disaster.

“Ending the occupation is not an option, but an obligation; ending the fighting is not just the appeal of one country, but international consensus. Implementing the two-State solution is the only viable way to resolve the question of Palestine. Relevant parties, especially Israel, need to earnestly implement the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, cease the military operations in Gaza without delay, and stop the illegal settlement activities in the West Bank. Relevant country needs to show a responsible attitude and take concrete actions to promote the implementation of relevant UN resolutions. China will continue to stand on the side of peace and justice and stand with the majority of countries, closely communicate with other parties, play a positive and constructive role in promoting a ceasefire, easing the humanitarian crisis, and restoring peace and stability in the region, and work for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine at an early date.”

Sep. 19: Remarks by Permanent Representative Geng Shuang at a UN Security Council briefing 

“Yesterday, the General Assembly Emergency Special Session overwhelmingly adopted a draft resolution tabled by the State of Palestine demanding the implementation of the ICJ advisory opinion. At this critical juncture when the world is grappling with the prolonged Gaza conflict and complex and intractable situation in the Middle East, the adoption of the resolution is a historic landmark.

“The resolution demands Israel to end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Independent statehood is an inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, but the prolonged illegal occupation prevents the Palestinian people from realizing national self-determination and gives Israel an exclusive veto over Palestinian statehood. Occupation will not make Israel more secure, but would only breed more hatred and antagonism and perpetuate a vicious cycle of violent clashes between Palestinians and Israelis. Only an end to the occupation and the establishment of independent state to Palestine will lead to the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel and lasting peace and security in the Middle East.

“The resolution urges all parties to stop arming Israel in its maintenance of the occupation. Military means is not a solution to the problem. Tit for tat violence would only exacerbate hatred. The conflict has cost the lives of many Palestinian and Israeli civilians in several decades, with the bloodshed and carnage continuing today. To tackle the question of Palestine needs political will and diplomatic efforts, not an endless stream of arms and ammunition and violent conflicts. All peace-loving nations should respond to the calls of the resolution and work towards that end.

“The resolution reaffirms that international rule of law must be upheld. International law is the cornerstone of the international order and international norms that must be respected by all parties. There is no exception to the fulfillment of obligations under international law. All states are equal before international law. Any double standard or selective applications are unacceptable. As a member of the international community and a UN member state, Israel must fulfill its legal obligations, implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, and comply with international law, in particular, international humanitarian law. 

“The resolution calls for the accelerated implementation of the two-State solution. Past decades saw Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank, encroaching on Palestinian territory and squeezing the space and viability of Palestine as a state. Israel’s actions continue to erode the foundation of the two-State solution and increasingly reveal its rejection of and resistance to the two-State solution. The international community must act with the uttermost urgency to revitalize the prospects of the two-State solution. China supports the proposal in the GA resolution to hold an international peace conference under the auspicious of the GA to discuss the implementation of relevant resolutions and the two-State solution.

“The GA resolution adopted yesterday embodies the broad consensus of the international community in promoting the resolution of the question of Palestine. It testifies to the resolve of the international community to uphold justice and realize peace in the Middle East. The Security Council should heed the calls of the international community and respond effectively. Regrettably, due to the negative attitude of one individual country, the Security Council has long been unable to take strong actions to resolve the Palestinian question, let alone to stop the almost one-year-old Gaza conflict. 

“More than three months ago, when pushing for the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2735, the US claimed that Israel had accepted the ceasefire deal, but facts seem otherwise. For more than three months, we have borne witness instead to the constantly intensifying Israeli military operations, mounting number of conditions for negotiations, and escalating provocations. Not a single moment should be wasted in the quest for a lasting ceasefire and easing of humanitarian catastrophe, but the US instead has repeatedly asked for more time and patience for diplomatic efforts. In the meantime, the Gazan civilians are paying for the time and patience with their lives and suffering. How come the time and patience needed by the US are so costly?

“The spillover effect of the continued fighting in Gaza is manifesting itself at a greater pace. Lebanon and Israel are on the verge of all-out conflicts, imperiling peace and stability of the entire Middle East. China urges Israel to abandon its obsession with the use of force and its illusion of seeking a complete military victory, immediately end its military operations in Gaza, cease infringements on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, and stop any risk-taking that might plunge the region into another catastrophe. We support the Security Council in using all available options in its toolbox to promote the implementation of resolutions and taking further actions to put an early end to the conflict, mitigate humanitarian catastrophe, and realize peace in the Middle East at an early date.”

Sep. 20: Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at a UN Security Council meeting

“Thousands of communications devices in Lebanon, including pagers and two-way radios, were detonated remotely and simultaneously. The explosions caused thousands of civilian casualties. China hereby registers profound shock and grave concerns over this development. Children playing in the streets lost their eyes. Mothers shopping in supermarkets had their limbs maimed. Doctors on their way to work were critically injured. These and other harrowing scenes are distressing beyond imagination. 

“Remotely detonating communications devices in indiscriminate attacks causing mass civilian casualties and panic in society is unheard of in history. This act is, without a doubt, a gross violation of a country’s sovereignty and security and a blatant breach of international law, particularly international humanitarian law. It is an act that tramples on human lives with unconscionable callousness. The attacks were so outrageously brutal and atrocious that they deserve nothing less than condemnation in the strongest terms. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the said attacks, but different parties have come to more or less the same conclusion as to who did it. We call for a prompt, full investigation to hold the orchestrators and implementers to account.

“Right now, the situation in the Middle East is hanging by a thread. Israel’s military operations in Gaza are still ongoing, which have already claimed more than 40,000 Palestinian lives. Meanwhile, Israel is also heightening the tensions around its border with Lebanon. We are informed by some analysis that the recent remotely executed attacks are a precursor to major military operations. We have also taken note of the latest statement from the Hezbollah leadership. We are deeply concerned by the possibility of further escalation of the tensions between Lebanon and Israel. We call on the parties to exercise maximum restraint, and call on Israel, in particular, to forego its obsession with the use of force and to halt without delay its military operations in Gaza, its violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, and its adventurism that risks dragging the region into yet another devastating catastrophe. We strongly urge countries with influence over Israel to take tangible steps to stop Israel from going further down the wrong path. We support the Security Council in taking all necessary actions and doing all it can to ease the situation between Lebanon and Israel and to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Sep. 22: Travel notice issued by the Chinese embassy in Israel

“Currently, the situation on the Israel-Lebanon border is highly tense, military conflicts occur frequently, and the local security situation in Israel remains severe, complex and changeable. The Chinese Embassy in Israel once again reminds Chinese citizens in Israel to pay close attention to the development of the situation, be further vigilant, be prepared to prevent all kinds of attacks such as missiles, rockets, and drones, effectively strengthen security precautions, and never be complacent. At present, the relevant security reminder is still ‘Remind Chinese citizens not to go to Israel for the time being.’ Chinese citizens in Israel are requested to return to China or move to safe areas as soon as possible according to relevant requirements. Those who really need to stay in Israel should pay attention to local safety tips in a timely manner, insist on not going out unless necessary, avoid going to high-risk areas and sensitive areas such as the north, keep in touch, and ensure safety.”

Sep. 24: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference on the situation in Lebanon

“China is closely following the current tensions between Lebanon and Israel and feels deeply shocked by the heavy casualties inflicted by relevant military operations. China opposes any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security. We oppose and condemn any move that harms innocent civilians. We call on relevant parties to take measures immediately to cool down the situation, prevent further escalation of regional tensions, uphold peace and stability in the Middle East, and protect the safety of the people there.”

Sep. 25: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference on growing clashes between Hezbollah and Israel

“At yesterday’s press conference, I stated China’s position on the current tensions between Lebanon and Israel. Let me reiterate that China calls on relevant parties to take measures immediately to cool down the situation, prevent further escalation of regional tensions, uphold peace and stability in the Middle East, and protect the safety of the people there. China stands ready to work with the international community towards this end.”

Sep. 26: Remarks by Permanent Representative Fu Cong at UN Security Council briefing on the Israel-Lebanon situation

“The Lebanese people have just experienced the bloodiest week in decades. Thousands of communications devices were detonated simultaneously via remote control, causing heavy casualties of innocent civilians. China once again condemned such unscrupulous and indiscriminate attacks. While the Lebanese people were still reeling from the shock, bombs rained down from the sky. Israel launched multiple rounds of large-scale airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, leading to over 500 deaths and close to 2,000 injuries. China is seriously concerned about the current situation between Lebanon and Israel. We firmly support Lebanon in defending sovereignty, security, and national dignity, and strongly condemn acts that violate the basic norms governing international relations. We firmly oppose any indiscriminate attacks against civilians that breach the red line of international humanitarian law. We emphasize the importance of effectively guaranteeing the safety and security of UN peacekeepers. UN personnel and assets must not be the target of armed attacks.”

Sep. 28: Remarks by Ambassador Wang Yi at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

“The question of Palestine is the biggest wound to human conscience. As we speak, the conflict in Gaza is still going on, causing more civilian casualties with each passing day. Fighting has spread to Lebanon; might must not take the place of justice. Palestine’s long-held aspiration to establish an independent state should not be shunned anymore, and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people should not be ignored any longer. There must not be any delay in reaching a comprehensive ceasefire, and the fundamental way out lies in the two-State solution. China has always been a staunch supporter of the just cause of the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate national rights, and a staunch supporter of Palestine’s full U.N. membership. We have recently helped to bring about breakthroughs in intra-Palestine reconciliation, and will continue to work in concert with like-minded countries for a comprehensive and just settlement of the question of Palestine and durable peace and security in the Middle East.”

Oct. 2: Remarks by Permanent Representative Fu Cong at UN Security Council briefing on the Israel-Lebanon situation

“Over the past two weeks, the situation in the Middle East, Lebanon in particular, has taken a sharp turn for the worse. Following the remotely operated and simultaneous detonation of thousands of communications devices in Lebanon, Israel carried out several rounds of large-scale airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, and launched ground offensive and military incursion into Lebanon yesterday. Israel also intensified airstrikes against Syria. Iran has concluded a series of military attacks on the military and security targets of Israel, and sent correspondence to the Security Council explaining its position. China is deeply concerned and extremely worried about the current grave situation and the possibility of further developments. We call for earnest respect for the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of all states, reiterate our opposition to all acts that violate the basic norms governing international relations, and condemn all violence and attacks against civilians. We share the position of the United Nations that any Israeli crossing into Lebanon violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and contravenes the provisions of Security Council Resolution 1701...

“The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Under the current circumstances, the Council must take urgent actions and be united in making clear and unequivocal demands: an immediate ceasefire must be established in Gaza; the deescalation of the Lebanese-Israeli situation must be advanced to stop the cycle of violence; every effort must be made to prevent the spread of the fighting; and the parties concerned must return to the track of political and diplomatic solutions. With the current situation hanging by a thread, any passive procrastination would be irresponsible, and any rhetoric of condoning further military adventurism would send a wrong message and could cause serious consequences. We hope major countries with influence will adopt a sincere and responsible attitude and earnestly play a constructive role to avoid further escalation of the situation.”

Oct. 8: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference on the first anniversary of the Gaza war 

“The harsh reality fully proves that military operations and violence are not the way out, and will only accumulate grievance and push peace and stability further out of reach. Not long ago, China proposed the three-step initiative regarding the conflict in Gaza, which identifies ceasefire and humanitarian aid as the pressing priority, “the Palestinians governing Palestine” as the fundamental principle of post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza and the two-State solution as the fundamental way forward. The legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people need to be realized and the reasonable security concerns of Israel need to be paid attention to. The international community needs to, on the basis of promoting deescalation, hold a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference and formulate a timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-State solution, so as to eventually realize peaceful coexistence between the two states of Palestine and Israel as well as harmony between the Arab and Jewish peoples.”

Oct. 8: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference on the evacuation of Chinese nationals from Lebanon

“Since the abrupt escalation of tensions between Lebanon and Israel, we have acted in the spirit of the important guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping. The Foreign Ministry worked closely and round the clock with the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Administration and Chinese embassies in Lebanon, Cyprus and other countries to protect the safety of Chinese nationals with utmost effort and swiftly transfer and evacuate them. With the concerted efforts of all sides, we have enabled the safe evacuation from Lebanon of 215 Chinese nationals, including three Hong Kong residents and one Taiwan compatriot, in two batches by ship and chartered plane respectively. We would like to express our thanks to Air China, China COSCO Shipping and Ningbo Zhongmeng Hanglian, which have actively supported and participated in the transfer and evacuation operation.

“The current Lebanon-Israel situation is still complex and severe. The Chinese Embassy in Lebanon remains open and continues to provide guidance and assistance to help a few Chinese nationals who are still there keep themselves safe.”

Oct. 9: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference on Gaza war and potential Israeli strikes against Iran’s oil production facilities 

“The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been protracted for over a year, causing the death of over 40,000 people in Gaza, most of whom are women and children. The international community has agreed on the need to deescalate tensions, end the fighting and violence, protect civilians and avoid humanitarian disaster.

"To end this conflict, we need political will and diplomatic efforts, not weapons, ammunition and unilateral sanctions. Major country needs to play its due role, be objective and just, take the lead in observing international law, and make positive efforts to end the fighting as soon as possible, put the situation under control and prevent spillover of the crisis...

“China is deeply concerned over the turmoil in the Middle East. We oppose moves that fuel antagonism and expand conflict, and call on all parties to handle the current situation with a calm, rational and responsible attitude in the interest of peace and stability in the region. The international community, especially major countries with influence, needs to play a constructive role and avoid further turmoil.”

Oct. 9: Remarks by Permanent Representative Fu Cong at UN Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza

“We cannot ignore the marginalization of the Council. There is broad consensus among the vast majority of Council members on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. After repeated vetoes of the Council’s demand for an immediate ceasefire, the U.S. put forward a ceasefire initiative last May, claiming that Israel had accepted it and requesting the Council’s support for an agreement through diplomatic talks. However, over the past five months, the so-called diplomatic efforts seemed to be going in circles, and more time and patience have led to greater civilian casualties and more reckless military adventurism.

“It is necessary to take a deep look at the current impasse and reaffirm some self-evident principles. Security Council resolutions are binding for all states, as stipulated in the UN Charter, and there is no room for distortion or interpretation. In this regard, the implementation of international humanitarian law is a non-negotiable obligation and cannot be used as a bargaining chip. The principles of international law are universally applicable to all states. Double standard and selective application would set a terrible precedent with wide ranging negative consequences.”

Oct. 10: Remarks by Permanent Representative Fu Cong at UN Security Council briefing on the Israel-Lebanon situation

“Recent weeks have witnessed a sharp rise in tensions between Lebanon and Israel. A few hours ago, the IDF attacked UNIFIL positions and an observation tower, causing injuries to UNIFIL personnel. China expresses grave concerns and strong condemnation. UNIFIL carries out its peacekeeping tasks under the mandate from the Security Council resolution. Any deliberate attacks on peacekeepers constitute a severe violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701. Such acts must stop immediately. We demand that these attacks be investigated and those responsible be held to account. Measures must be taken to prevent any re-occurrence. We reiterate that all parties to the conflict must effectively guarantee the safety and security of all UN personnel and assets, including UNIFIL. The gravity of the current situation is clear, as is the right direction to deescalation. I would like to emphasize the following three points.

“First, since October last year, the series of destabilizing events that have taken place in the Middle East have resulted in more than 100,000 civilian casualties and left millions of people displaced. The cleanup work will take a decade or so. What’s more, the trauma brought by conflicts will be a lingering nightmare for generations to come. The Middle East cannot afford a full-scale war. The conflict cannot continue to expand. All parties must keep in mind the interest of maintaining regional peace and stability, deal with the current situation in a calm, rational, and responsible manner, and make sincere efforts towards breaking the cycle of violence.

“Second, achieving a ceasefire must be an overarching priority. We note that all parties in Lebanon have already made a unanimous call for an immediate ceasefire. The Arab League has also issued an explicit appeal. It is clear who holds the key to ending this crisis. We urge Israel to set aside its obsession with the use of force, make the right political decision, stop violating Lebanon’s sovereignty and territory integrity, and end its adventurous behavior that could drag the region into a new catastrophe.

“Third, there is no time to lose for the Council to act. The vast majority of Council members have long since reached a broad consensus on deescalating the conflict, achieving a ceasefire, stopping the violence, and seeking a diplomatic solution. We urge a certain country to stop its passive procrastination, cover-up, and connivance. Instead, it should act responsibly and play a constructive role in order to prevent further destabilization of the situation.”

Oct. 11: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference on the situation in Lebanon

“China is gravely concerned over and strongly condemns the Israel Defense Forces’ attack on the positions and observation tower of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which injured personnel from UNIFIL. Any deliberate attack on UN peacekeepers is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and UNSC Resolution 1701. It is absolutely unacceptable and shall be put to an immediate stop. We request investigation into the incident, effort to bring relevant people to account and measures to prevent such incident from happening again. Parties to the conflict must earnestly ensure the safety and security of all UN personnel and property, including the UNIFIL. China urges parties concerned, Israel in particular, to take immediate measures to deescalate tensions, ensure the safety of UN peacekeeping personnel, and prevent the conflict from further expanding or even spiraling out of control.”

Oct. 16: Remarks by Permanent Representative Fu Cong at UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian Question

“We must uphold and revitalize the effectiveness of Security Council resolutions. The Council has adopted a number of resolutions regarding the situation in Gaza, explicitly calling for a ceasefire. But none of them has been effectively implemented. This has dealt a serious blow to the credibility of the entire UN system. Council resolutions are binding for all states and must be implemented. We support the Council in using all the options in its toolbox to ensure the implementation of its resolutions. Every member has the responsibility to safeguard the effectiveness of Council resolutions. In this respect, we particularly hope that the United States will respond to the strong call of the international community and support further actions by the Council to bringing about an immediate ceasefire. It needs to be pointed out that, according to reports, since last October, the U.S. has provided Israel with more than 17 billion U.S. dollars worth of military [aid]. Under the current circumstances, does such a large scale supply of weapons help realize the objectives of Security Council resolutions? This is a question that needs serious consideration.”

Oct. 15: Remarks by Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian on Israeli strikes that hit UNIFIL personnel

“China is seriously concerned about and strongly condemns the Israeli military’s attack on the UNIFIL. China firmly opposes any attack on UN peacekeepers. We require a thorough investigation on the incident and hold those responsible accountable. We urge relevant parties to take real actions to prevent such an incident from happening again. The parties involved in the conflict must ensure the safety of the personnel and assets of the UNIFIL.

“The Chinese peacekeeping units in Lebanon are safe now. China is closely monitoring the security situation in Lebanon, and will take additional measures to strengthen security protection of our troops.”

Oct. 18: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference on the death of Hamas commander Yahya al-Sinwar

“China has, as always, supported Palestine’s internal reconciliation and believes this is an important step based on the two-State solution toward solving the Palestinian question and realizing peace and stability in the Middle East. No matter how the situation evolves, it’s important for Palestinian factions to strengthen solidarity and the international community to provide firm support. China stands ready to work with all parties to continue working relentlessly to this end.

“We noted relevant report. China believes that the pressing priority is to fully and effectively implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, immediately reach a ceasefire in Gaza, earnestly protect civilians, ensure the humanitarian aid and avoid further escalating the conflict and confrontation.”

Oct. 21: Remarks by Permanent Representative Fu Cong at UN Security Council briefing

“Frequent cyber attacks and cyber espionage incidents have undermined the security and public interests of many countries. The military application of AI is disrupting traditional forms of warfare and causing widespread worries. The recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon showed us the unimaginable disruption in civilian casualties caused by AI-driven algorithms and remote manipulation. The misuse of technology in violation of international humanitarian law must be condemned and resisted.” 

Oct. 22: Remarks by Permanent Representative Fu Cong during human rights discussion at UN General Assembly

“The human rights situation that should gather the most attention at the Committee this year is undoubtedly that of Gaza. Australia and the U.S., among a few others, played down this living hell, while unleashing attacks and smears against the peaceful and tranquil Xinjiang. They are reaching new lows in the practice of double standards in front of the whole world. This revealed, once again, the true intentions of Australia and the U.S. to use human rights as a pretext to interfere in China’s internal affairs and curb its development, and to broadly suppress developing countries that adhere to an independent and autonomous foreign policy.

“If the death of more than 40,000 civilians in Gaza and the starvation and the displacement of millions of women and children are not enough to awake the conscience of a few Western countries including Australia and the U.S., and not enough for them to stop sending weapons and ammunition that have claimed the lives of countless Palestinian civilians, then their so-called protection of human rights of Muslims is nothing but the biggest lie. Fortunately, the vast number of member states have clear eyes. Just now, 80 countries, including a large number of Muslim countries, issued a joint statement in support of China, clearly opposing the interference in the internal affairs of other countries through human rights issues. And this fully shows that the hypocrisy of Australia, the US, and a few others in politicizing the weaponizing human rights issues has long been recognized as such, that the plot of using Xinjiang to contain China has long gone bankrupt, and that the sinister intention of using China to stir up confrontations has completely failed.”

Oct. 23: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China is deeply concerned over the escalated turmoil in the Middle East, opposes the violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and opposes moves that fuel antagonism and escalate tensions in the region. We hope that relevant sides will return to the track of political settlement as early as possible, and settle differences and disputes through communication and dialogue to cool down the regional situation as soon as possible.”

Oct. 24: President Xi remarks on Gaza during speech at BRICS Summit

“Last July, Palestinian factions reconciled with each other in Beijing, marking a key step toward peace in the Middle East. We should continue to promote a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and revive the two-State solution. We must stop the flames of war from spreading in Lebanon and end the miserable sufferings in Palestine and Lebanon.”

Nov. 26: Foreign Ministry readout of President Xi’s congratulatory message to the UN special commemorative meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

“Xi Jinping pointed out that the Palestinian question lies at the heart of the Middle East issue. It is a matter of international fairness and justice. The pressing task is to comprehensively and effectively implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, realize ceasefire as soon as possible and ease the regional situation. The fundamental way out is to implement the two-State solution and promote the political settlement of the Palestinian question, establish an independent Palestinian state enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital, and ensure the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence and their right of return.

“Xi Jinping stressed that China has always been a staunch supporter of the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and has always supported all Palestinian factions in strengthening unity and implementing the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity to realize internal reconciliation. China firmly supports Palestine in becoming a full UN member and supports the convening of a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. China will continue to work with the international community to promote an end to the fighting and the killing, support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza, and bring the Palestinian question back onto the right track of the two-State solution, with a view to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting solution at an early date.”

Dec. 2: Foreign Ministry readout of Special Envoy Zhai Jun’s remarks at the Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza

“Zhai Jun said that China is deeply concerned and saddened by the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. To fundamentally alleviate the Gaza crisis, a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire must be realized. The immediate priority is to ensure rapid and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The top priority is to support the United Nations in playing a greater role in the Palestinian question and to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in performing its duties. The fundamental guarantee is the effective implementation of international law, especially international humanitarian law.

“Zhai Jun said that since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, China has provided emergency cash assistance respectively to the UNRWA and the Palestinian government, as well as multiple batches of humanitarian aid to Gaza through Egypt. China will work with the international community to contribute wisdom and strength to quell the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible, alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and push the Palestinian question back onto the right track of the two-State solution.”

Dec. 3: Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at UN Security Council Briefing 

“In Gaza in particular, where fighting has been going on for 14 months, more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed, 70% of them women and children, and over 2 million people are struggling to survive in the hell on earth, among them, babies waiting to be fed, pregnant women in dire straits, and elderly people waiting for medical treatment.

“When life and survival are not guaranteed, is there anything else to speak of? The Security Council discussions on issues of women, peace, and security shouldn’t be for the sake of political correctness or sound bite. It should come up with concrete and pragmatic measures. An overriding priority in this regard is to promote a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. Without creating the conditions for women’s security, the Council’s discussions will be nothing more than empty platitudes for the women who have suffered so much from war and conflict. We reiterate our call on all Council members to stand united in upholding the authority of the Council’s mechanisms and its resolutions and support robust action by the Council to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and restore peace.”

Dec. 11: Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at UN General Assembly

“Today, we are meeting in this hall for the emergency special session of the General Assembly. This is because the U.S. has once again single-handedly exercised its veto, paralyzing the Security Council and preventing it from taking the necessary actions to promote a ceasefire in Gaza. On the question of Palestine, the abuse of the veto by the United States is totally unjustified. To ameliorate the detrimental effects of the veto, Indonesia and other countries have submitted two draft resolutions. One demands an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian access. And the other calls on Israel to rescind the bills against UNRWA so as to guarantee its normal functioning, and also appeals to the international community to scale up its support to the Agency. The two draft resolutions speak volumes about the call for justice by the international community. China will vote in favor of the two draft resolutions. 

“The conflict in Gaza has dragged on for 14 months. Gaza has been reduced to rubble, and more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed. The survivors, deprived of the most basic necessities, are struggling in despair. In this unprecedented catastrophe, we have seen indiscriminate bombing and disregard for civilian lives reach appalling proportions; we have seen an individual country unscrupulously condone and shield its allies; and we have seen the selective application of international law and double standards reach unprecedented levels. One cannot help but wonder, have the rules and systems established by the UN over its 80 years of existence become completely irrelevant and useless? Is the world going back to the age where the law of the jungle rules the day? Our answer is this: the world cannot go back to the age of the jungle. Nor should the law of the jungle become the new normal. 

“We must push for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. A ceasefire is a prerequisite for saving lives and restoring peace. Linking the ceasefire to other issues or even conversely setting preconditions for a ceasefire is tantamount to green-lighting the continuation of war and condoning the continuation of killing. 

“We must uphold the authority of international law. There must be no exceptions in fulfilling obligations under international law. Israel, as the occupying power, must assume its obligations under IHL and effectively remove all impediments to humanitarian access, ensure the orderly distribution of goods throughout Gaza, and guarantee the safety and security of humanitarian agencies and their personnel. 

“In particular, we must support and guarantee the normal functioning of UNRWA. The Agency is a source of support for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region. More importantly, for the people of Gaza, it is a lifeline that has no substitute. We urge Israel to cease its suppression and restrictions imposed on humanitarian organizations such as UNRWA. We call on traditional donor countries to continue their support for UNRWA and refrain from participating in the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. 

“We must revitalize the two-State solution with utmost urgency. The two states living side by side and sharing security and development is the only way to achieve peace for Palestine and Israel. The international community should bolster support and provide assurance for the realization of the two-State solution. At present, it is necessary to help the Palestinians to strengthen their governance capacity and support them in reaching an agreement on the future arrangement for Gaza through internal consultations. At the same time, it is important to be vigilant and reject any unilateral moves that erode the foundation of the two-State solution, including further expansion of settlements in the West Bank and attempts to annex the West Bank. China supports the State of Palestine in becoming a full member of the UN. We support the holding of a larger scale, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to formulate a timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-State solution. China will continue to make unremitting efforts for an early end to the fighting, the restoration of peace in the region, and the realization of a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine.”

Dec. 11: Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at UN Security Council briefing

“I would like to emphasize that it has been 14 months since the start of the Gaza conflict. The negative spillover effects of the conflict are growing. Lebanon, Syria, as well as the Red Sea and Yemen, are all experiencing new turbulence. The Security Council should maintain its unity and take measures to promote a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible and gradual deescalation in the region, so as to prevent more countries from being plunged into catastrophe. We are ready to work with all parties and continue our unremitting efforts for the political settlement of the Yemeni issue and for peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Dec. 17: Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at UN Security Council Briefing 

“For more than a year, since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, the Middle East has witnessed relentless turmoil. Tensions have escalated in the Palestinian-Israeli, Lebanese-Israeli, Iranian-Israeli, and the Red Sea situations, coupled with the recent shift in the situation in Syria. The Middle East region is mired in constant turbulence and frequent conflicts, gravely affecting international peace and security. Such a situation, if left unchecked, will only drag more countries and peoples into the quagmire of war. The international community should work with a greater sense of urgency and responsibility to seek deescalation of conflicts and promote the early return of peace and stability to the region.”

Dec. 30: Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at UN Security Council Briefing

“The year 2024 is coming to an end. It is a year of escalating conflict and confrontation, spreading tensions in the Middle East. Israel’s savage bombing in Gaza has not stopped even for one moment, and its violent suppression in the West Bank has not ceased.

“We call on all parties to the conflict in the Middle East to refrain from actions that may escalate tensions. The pressing priority is an end to the fighting. The conflict in Gaza has dragged on far too long. An immediate and permanent ceasefire is a prerequisite for all work to proceed. The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is very fragile. The agreement reached must be effectively implemented.

“We call on the international community to step up efforts for a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date. As facts have repeatedly shown, the Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue, and only when the Palestinian question is completely resolved, can there be true peace and stability in the Middle East. The international community should, with a greater sense of urgency, revitalize the political prospects for the two-State solution.”

2025

Jan. 3: Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at UN Security Council Briefing

“As the new year begins, people all expect everything to take on a fresh look. Yet in Gaza, death continues to cast its shadow, and the bombings and attacks by Israel do not cease even for a moment. For the people in Gaza, they were not counting down to the happy celebration of the new year, but the next bombing that could happen anytime. 

“Right before the new year, a heinous tragedy took place in northern Gaza. The Israeli force launched an attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital, the only remaining comprehensive medical service institution in northern Gaza, forcibly detaining medical and care personnel, forcibly transferring innocent patients, causing the deaths of a large number of people, and plunging the hospital into a sea of fire. This act seriously violates international law, in particular international humanitarian law. It is appalling, and China strongly condemns this. 

“It is not the first time that Kamal Adwan Hospital has been attacked, nor is it the only hospital in Gaza that has been attacked. According to the OHCHR report, by June 2024, at least 27 hospitals and 12 medical institutions in Gaza have been subject to 136 attacks, which claimed the lives of over 500 medical personnel. Protecting the safety of medical facilities in armed conflict is a bottom line under international humanitarian law. Without sufficient evidence proving that medical facilities have become hostile facilities, deliberately launching large-scale and indiscriminate attacks against medical institutions that cause casualties of innocent civilians violates international humanitarian law and could constitute war crimes. There is also analysis indicating that the lethal attacks launched by Israel against the medical institutions in Gaza to bring the medical system in Gaza to the brink of collapse are part of the systematic strategy to make Gaza uninhabitable. China expresses its grave concerns over and strong opposition to this. We urge Israel to effectively abide by its IHL obligations, stop turning hospitals into battlefields, stop launching attacks on medical facilities, ensure the safety of medical institutions and personnel, and release all medical personnel detained. 

“The conflict in Gaza has already caused an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and civilian casualties. As the conflict enters its 15th month and comes to the beginning of 2025, ending the conflict and restoring peace remains the most pressing matter and a duty of which the fulfillment has been delayed by the Security Council for too long. A certain country repeatedly claims that a ceasefire agreement will soon be reached, yet the reality is continued killing and death. I wish to stress that differences in negotiations should be bridged by political will and not be filled with innocent lives, winning the war does not necessarily mean securing peace, and resorting only to military strength does not guarantee lasting security. China urges Israel to heed the strong calls of the international community and immediately stop all acts of military adventurism. China calls up Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian access for Gaza, stop implementing and revoke promptly the bills against UNRWA, and guarantee safety and facilitation for UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies to carry out their assistance. China supports the Security Council in fulfilling its responsibility for maintaining international peace and security and in taking all necessary actions to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian disaster, and implement the two-State solution to respond to the expectations of the international community.”

Jan. 15: Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at UN Security Council Briefing

“There is a strong census among Council members that a ceasefire in Gaza would help ease tensions in the Red Sea. Recently, there have been positive developments regarding a ceasefire in Gaza. The next few days will be critical to the trajectory of developments in Gaza. We hope that all parties will truly demonstrate political will and take concrete actions to turn the vision of a ceasefire in Gaza into reality, so as to bring hope to the suffering people in Gaza and create conditions for cooling down the precarious chaos in the Middle East.”

Jan. 16: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China welcomes the agreement and hopes that this agreement will be implemented effectively and that there will be a full and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

“Since the outbreak of the current round of conflict in Gaza, China has been calling for an early ceasefire and working actively for deescalation, protection of civilians and humanitarian assistance. China supports the implementation of the ceasefire deal and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza and make strong efforts for the resumption of post-war reconstruction. We also sincerely hope that relevant parties will take the ceasefire in Gaza as an opportunity to further deescalate the tensions in the region. China will work with the international community to make an unremitting effort for peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Jan. 17: Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at UN Security Council Briefing

“While China welcomes the cessation of hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel, we note with concern the continuous strikes against Lebanon. On January 15, the mediators announced that an agreement had been reached on a ceasefire in Gaza, which China welcomes. We sincerely look forward to the effective implementation of the agreement, so that a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire can materialize in Gaza to contribute to the deescalation of tensions in the wider Middle East. That said, Israel’s final approval of the agreement is still pending, and the IDF operations in Gaza are ongoing and have added further 80-plus casualties to the tally, all of which tells us that the current situation in Lebanon and in Gaza remains very fragile. The international community, the Security Council in particular, should remain united and work as one to encourage and facilitate the implementation of ceasefire agreements and to maintain regional peace and stability.”

Jan. 20: Remarks at Foreign Ministry press conference

“China welcomes the coming into force of the agreement on ceasefire in Gaza, and hopes the agreement will be implemented in its entirety and without interruption and that there will be a full and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. China will work with the international community to make an unremitting effort for peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Grant Rumley is the Meisel-Goldberger Fellow in The Washington Institute’s Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East. Rebecca Redlich and Claudia Groeling are research assistants in the program.