China condemns Israeli war crimes and expresses solidarity with the Palestinian people

China has twice recently used the platform of the United Nations to condemn Israeli war crimes, draw attention to the role played by the United States and to express solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people and with their national aspirations.

Speaking at a Nakba commemoration on May 15, Ambassador Geng Shuang said that: “Seventy-seven years ago, more than half of the Palestinian people were expelled or fled from their homes during the Arab-Israeli war, and they have since embarked on the arduous journey of striving for their legitimate rights and interests. Today, 77 years later, the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people has not only remained unaddressed but has even worsened. 

“The war in Gaza has lasted for 19 months, claiming the lives of more than 53,000 Gazans and leaving the once beautiful cities and towns in ruins. Israel’s escalating siege on Gaza has led to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe for two million people who face the threat of forced relocation. The continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the intensifying settler violence have relentlessly squeezed the space for the Palestinian people and eroded the basis of the two-State solution.”

He added that, “On the question of Palestine, China, upholding fairness and justice, remains steadfast in its support for the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, for the early establishment of the fully sovereign and independent State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and for the early admission of the State of Palestine as a full member of the UN,” adding that China would continue to work tirelessly for, “a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine at an early date, so that the Nakba day will forever remain in the past.”

Two days previously, on May 13, Ambassador Fu Cong addressed a UN Security Council Briefing on the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza and said:

“Gaza has become a living hell. Israel’s continuous bombing and raids are causing civilian casualties every day. On May 7 alone, there were more than 100 lives lost. Over the two-month-plus blockade, Gaza’s survival supplies were depleted. Hunger and disease are spreading rapidly. According to the IPC [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] report, the population in Gaza are suffering from severe food shortages, with nearly half a million people in a state of catastrophic hunger.

He went on to make three points:

• It is imperative to resume humanitarian assistance. Israel must fulfil its obligations as the occupying power under international humanitarian law by immediately lifting the blockade and restoring full access to supplies.
• The realisation of a durable ceasefire is a top priority. China urges Israel to immediately cease its military attacks on Gaza. Yesterday, an American hostage was released and returned home, which we welcome. And we hope that the United States, as a country with significant influence on the party concerned, will uphold a fair and responsible attitude and contribute to efforts that will bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.
• The implementation of the two-State solution is the only way forward. The international community should collectively reject any unilateral actions that erode the basis of the two-State solution.

The following articles were originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

Remarks at the Commemoration of the Nakba by Ambassador Geng Shuang

Chair, 

I thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for organizing today’s commemoration. 

Seventy-seven years ago, more than half of the Palestinian people were expelled or fled from their homes during the Arab-Israeli war, and they have since embarked on the arduous journey of striving for their legitimate rights and interests. Today, 77 years later, the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people has not only remained unaddressed, but has even worsened. 

The war in Gaza has lasted for 19 months, claiming the lives of more than 53,000 Gazans and leaving the once beautiful cities and towns in ruins. Israel’s escalating siege on Gaza has led to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe for two million people who face the threat of forced relocation. The continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the intensifying settler violence have relentlessly squeezed the space for the Palestinian people and eroded the basis of the two-State solution. 

The question of Palestine, at the core of the Middle East issue, bears on the peace, stability, and long-term security of the region. The implementation of the two-State solution is the only viable way to resolve the question. The imperative now is to immediately realize a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian disaster. Israel must implement the Security Council and GA resolutions, comply with the ICJ provisional measures and advisory opinion, immediately cease all military attacks and violations of international law, especially IHL, lift the blockade of Gaza, stop settlement activities in the West Bank, and curb settler violence. A major power with significant influence over the party concerned should uphold an impartial and objective position, and take tangible actions to calm the fighting in Gaza and ease tensions in West Bank.

Chair, 

On the question of Palestine, China, upholding fairness and justice, remains steadfast in its support for the justice cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights for the early establishment of the fully sovereign and independent State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and for the early admission of the State of Palestine as a full member of the UN. China supports the Gaza recovery and reconstruction plan jointly launched by Egypt and other Arab countries, and looks forward to the high-level conference on the two-State solution to be held by France and Saudi Arabia in June, which will give new impetus to its implementation. 

China will continue to work tirelessly with all peace-loving countries to promote the implementation of the two-State solution and to realize a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine at an early date, so that the Nakba day will forever remain in the past. 

Thank you, Chair.

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Remarks on the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Briefing

President,

I thank the UK, France, Denmark, Slovenia, and Greece for the initiating today’s meeting. And I thank Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher and Ms. Angelica Jacome for their briefings.

Gaza has become a living hell. Israel’s continuous bombing and raids are causing civilian casualties every day. On May 7 alone, there were more than 100 lives lost. Over the two-month-plus blockade, Gaza’s survival supplies were depleted. Hunger and disease are spreading rapidly. According to the IPC report, the population in Gaza are suffering from severe food shortages, with nearly half a million people in a state of catastrophic hunger. We call on the international community to pool all efforts and take urgent actions to bring an end to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. I will make three points.

First, it is imperative to resume humanitarian assistance. Israel must fulfil its obligations as the occupying power under international humanitarian law by immediately lifting the blockade and restoring full access to supplies. Gaza has become the most dangerous place for humanitarian workers, with more than 400 humanitarian workers killed in the current conflict. We express our condolences to all the humanitarian workers who have lost their lives, and call for a thorough investigation and full accountability. The dignity, safety, and facilitation of UNRWA should be respected and guaranteed. Recently, a certain country has proposed the so-called humanitarian distribution plan. We have noted that the United Nations have categorically rejected the so-called plan. Humanitarian assistance must not be weaponized, and the principles of impartiality, independence, and neutrality must be a help at all times.

Second, the realization of a durable ceasefire is a top priority. Military means will not solve the problem. Prolonging the fighting will only lead to more killings and deaths, rather than creating favorable conditions for the rescue of hostages. China urges Israel to immediately cease its military attacks on Gaza. Yesterday, an American hostage was released and returned home, which we welcome. And we hope that the United States, as a country with significant influence on the party concerned, will uphold a fair and responsible attitude and contribute to efforts that will bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.

Third, the implementation of the two-State solution is the only way forward. The international community should collectively reject any unilateral actions that erode the basis of the two-State solution and step up its efforts to provide support and guarantees for the political process of the two-State solution. As mandated by the GA resolution, a high-level conference on the two-State solution will be held in June. It is hoped that the meeting will give further impetus to building a broad consensus of the international community and taking practical actions for the implementation of the two-State solution.

China will continue to work with the international community and make our unremitting efforts to end the war in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian disaster, implement the two-State solution, and ultimately achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine.

Thank you, President.