15-10-2023 (BEIJING) China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Israel to end its collective punishment of the people of Gaza, stating that Israel’s actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense. Speaking during a call with Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Wang expressed China’s strongest stance yet on the conflict, urging Israel to listen to the international community and the UN Secretary-General.
The remarks come as Israel appears poised for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza. Over one million people in the northern part of the enclave have been ordered to flee ahead of the expected assault, raising concerns about a humanitarian disaster. Gaza, home to 2.3 million residents, has been under a land, air, and sea blockade since 2006, exacerbating the dire living conditions in the territory.
Israel launched a massive retaliatory bombing campaign after Hamas fighters breached the heavily fortified border and carried out attacks that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 people. The conflict has claimed the lives of both civilians and combatants, with a significant number of casualties reported on both sides.
During the call with Prince Faisal, Wang emphasized the need for all parties to avoid escalating the situation and to return to the negotiating table promptly. In a separate call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Wang urged the United States to play a constructive and responsible role in the conflict. He called for the convening of an international peace meeting to promote the reaching of a broad consensus.
China’s official statements on the conflict have not explicitly named Hamas, leading to criticism from Western officials who argue that they are too weak. To address the ongoing violence and promote peace talks, China’s special envoy Zhai Jun is set to visit the Middle East next week. Zhai’s visit aims to coordinate with various parties for a ceasefire, protect civilians, ease the situation, and facilitate peace talks.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV announced that Zhai’s visit would seek to support the Arab League’s role in the Palestine issue and make efforts to revive the Middle East peace process. Concerns about the conflict’s spillover and its potential to widen further are deeply worrying, according to Zhai in an interview with CCTV.
