United Nations (TDI): China has called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and renewed its push for the implementation of a two-state solution, as the humanitarian toll from the ongoing conflict continues to mount.
Speaking at an open session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Geng Shuang, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative, emphasized the urgent need to halt hostilities and work toward a viable political resolution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Geng warned that nearly two years of warfare in Gaza had led to catastrophic destruction and inflicted immense suffering on civilians on both sides. “The human cost is unbearable,” he said, noting that over 60,000 civilians in Gaza have lost their lives due to Israeli military operations.
He criticized the failure to uphold a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year, saying that despite hopes for peace and the release of hostages, violence has resumed and hostages remain in captivity.
Read More: China Urges Immediate Gaza Cease-fire
Expressing alarm over reports of a potential Israeli escalation aimed at fully occupying Gaza, Geng urged Israel to immediately halt such plans. He called on all parties to agree to a binding and durable truce, and appealed to influential nations to act responsibly to de-escalate the situation.
Geng also spotlighted the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where nearly two million civilians remain trapped under blockade. He warned of a looming famine and condemned any restrictions on humanitarian aid, calling such measures a form of collective punishment.
“Israel must respect international law and humanitarian principles,” Geng said, demanding that full access be restored for UN relief agencies and other humanitarian organizations.
Reiterating China’s long-standing support for the two-state solution, Geng said that decades of unresolved conflict had deepened the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis. He emphasized that only a just, political settlement, with a sovereign Palestinian state, could offer a permanent end to the violence and prevent future crises.
Read More: China Urges International Community to Support Gaza Ceasefire
He also pointed to last week’s high-level meeting at the UN General Assembly, where global leaders reaffirmed support for the two-state solution and called for renewed international efforts to revive peace talks.
“China is committed to working with the international community to end the bloodshed in Gaza, relieve the humanitarian crisis, and help push forward a political path based on the two-state solution,” Geng concluded.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
