China proposes four priorities on Gaza crisis

China proposed four priorities to immediately address the “critical situation” in the Gaza Strip, and called for a more authoritative, influential and broad-based international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations on the Palestine question at an early date. Speaking after co-chairing the China- European Union High-Level Strategic Dialogue with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said The ongoing conflict has caused heavy civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation was rapidly deteriorating. Wang proposed four priorities: stop the fighting as soon as possible; observe the international humanitarian law; relevant countries exercise restraint; and the UN play its due role in resolving the question of Palestine. Wang noted that China was communicating with the relevant parties. “China will actively participate in emergency consultations at the UN Security Council and support the call by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for protecting civilians,” he said. Wang pointed out that the Palestine question was at the heart of the Middle East issue and a wound that kept being torn open in present-day world. “The root cause of this question lies in the long delay in realising the dream of an independent State of Palestine,” he said. “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,” he asked. “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. The answer to the question is the two-state solution and an independent State of Palestine,” he continued. “Only when the two-state solution is fully implemented, can the Middle East truly enjoy peace and Israel enjoy lasting security,” he said, adding: “This is how Palestine and Israel could coexist in peace and how the Arabs and Jews could live in harmony.” In the meantime, China called for a more authoritative, influential and broad-based international peace conference to be held under the auspices of the UN to build international consensus for peace and work for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine at an early date. Wang stressed that China would continue to stand on the side of peace, justice, international law, and human conscience. He assured that China would provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza Strip and the Palestinian National Authority through the UN.