President, 

I thank you for coming to New York to preside over this meeting. I thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his briefing. 

The Middle East is now deeply mired in turmoil, and the tensions on the ground are indeed worrying. Israel has reignited the war in Gaza. Its ongoing siege and relentless attacks on Gaza have resulted in new casualties among innocent civilians on a daily basis and an escalating humanitarian catastrophe. The illegal settlements in the West Bank keep expanding. Settlement violence is intensifying. Israel's repeated attacks on Lebanon and Syria are violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries on an ongoing basis. Since last month, tensions have been on the rise in the Red Sea. The United States has been ramping up airstrikes on Yemen in violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

The Gaza conflict is the trigger of the current round of regional volatility. 19 months have passed since the outbreak of the conflict. Despite the unanimous and strong call from the international community for a ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza, peace remains elusive. Amid the mayhem, over 52,000 people have lost their lives, and 2 million people in Gaza are threatened with forced displacement. The current round of the Gaza conflict has lasted for so long with so much devastation. A major reason for this is the wanton violation of the basic norms underpinning international rule of law. 

Here, I wish to reiterate some self-evident principles. Security Council resolutions must be fully implemented. This is stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations. There is no room for distortion in interpretation. Abiding by international humanitarian law is a non-negotiable obligation and must not be used as a bargaining chip. The principles of international law are universally applicable to all countries. Double standards and selective application entail serious consequences. We urge Israel to fulfill its obligations under international law in earnest and observe the basic norms governing international relations. The United States, a country with major influence on the party concerned, should cast aside its geopolitical self-interests, uphold a fair and responsible attitude, and work to restore peace and stability in the region. 

Given the gravity of the situation, I wish to emphasize the following points. 

First, a lasting ceasefire must be secured. Violence and force cannot bring about peace and security. A lasting ceasefire in Gaza is the best way to save lives and bring hostages home. This must be an overriding priority. China urges Israel to relinquish its obsession with the delusion of winning by force and to immediately cease its military operations in Gaza and its attacks on Lebanon and Syria. We call on the US to stop its air strikes on Yemen and to respect Yemen's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. The Houthis should stop harassing merchant ships and should maintain the safety of shipping lanes in the Red Sea. 

Second, humanitarian aid in Gaza must be restored. Humanitarian aid must not be weaponized. Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law as the occupying power by immediately lifting the blockade and fully restoring humanitarian access to Gaza. We strongly condemn any attacks against humanitarian workers and call for thorough investigations and accountability for all attacks. The so-called professional failures must not be used as an excuse to kill humanitarian workers. UNRWA, a body established upon the mandate of a UNGA resolution, enjoys privileges and immunities. Its dignity, safety and security, and facility should be respected and guaranteed. 

Third, unilateral actions that violate international law must stop. Settlement activities in the West Bank violate Security Council resolutions and must cease immediately. Security Council Resolution 2735 made it clear that it rejects “any attempt at demographic and territorial change in the Gaza Strip”. The recent expansion of the Israeli military presence in Gaza, carving out more than half of the territory into a buffer zone, is a cause for serious concern. The international community must firmly oppose any forcible displacement of the population of Gaza and any attempts to annex territory in Gaza or the West Bank. Israel should withdraw from the Lebanese and Syrian territories without delay. 

Fourth, the two-State solution must be revitalized. Implementing the two-State solution is the only viable way to resolve the question of Palestine. We support the Gaza recovery and reconstruction plan jointly launched by Egypt and other Arab countries. We commend France and Saudi Arabia for convening the upcoming high-level conference on the two-State solution in June, and hope that the conference will inject new impetus to the implementation of the two-State solution. The international community should step up its efforts to promote the political process of the two-State solution and provide it with robust guarantees. 

President,

As a primary organ for maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council has the responsibility to take all necessary actions for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. China will continue to work with the international community in our unremitting efforts to end the war in Gaza, restore peace in the Middle East, and strive for a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question. 

Thank you, President.