China Urges Ceasefire and Independent State of Palestine in Israel-Hamas Conflict
BEIJING — China has called for a ceasefire in the escalating conflict between Palestine and Israel, and has emphasized the need for “establishing an independent State of Palestine,” according to a statement by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
“The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
China’s online statement described the situation as an “escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel,” but notably did not mention the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and is regarded as a terrorist group by the U.S. and the European Union.
According to NBC News, at least 700 people in Israel have been killed since Hamas militants infiltrated the country on Saturday and abducted dozens, including civilians. In response, Israel has carried out counteroffensive strikes in Gaza, resulting in a death toll of 370, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
“We call on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation,” the Chinese foreign ministry stated.
Furthermore, the statement emphasized the international community’s need to act urgently, increase efforts to address the Palestine question, and facilitate the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel.
On Monday, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, took a stronger stance on the conflict by condemning all violence and attacks against civilians in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).
China has expressed its commitment to working relentlessly with the international community to achieve enduring peace in the region. The Chinese government’s call for peace and an independent State of Palestine adds to the global efforts to de-escalate the tensions between Israel and Hamas and find a long-term solution to the ongoing conflict.