President,
I thank the briefers for their briefings.
The Gaza conflict has persisted for nearly 700 days. Gaza has long become a living hell, with two million Gazan people deeply trapped in a massive man-made catastrophe, and over a million people facing a food security emergency. The international community needs to exhaust every effort possible to prevent further deterioration.
China reiterates that violence cannot bring security, nor can force win peace. Israel's continued, escalated military offensives have resulted in the loss of numerous innocent lives daily. Israel's strike on the Nasser Hospital on August 25 killed over 20 civilians, journalists, and medical workers, creating yet another horrendous tragedy. Israel is still moving forward with its military plan to take over Gaza. The plan, once implemented, will inevitably lead to more bloodshed and displacement, adding to the danger and insecurity both the Gazan people and the detained hostages are facing. China opposes and condemns all actions that harm civilians, damage infrastructure, and violate international law. We urge Israel to heed the strong calls from the international community, immediately cease its military operations in Gaza, and immediately halt its dangerous moves that escalate tensions.
China reiterates that violations of international humanitarian law are unacceptable, the weaponization of humanitarian supplies is unacceptable, and the militarization of the aid distribution mechanism is also unacceptable. All along, the biggest challenge to scaling up humanitarian assistance in Gaza has not been the shortage of supplies or the inadequacies of the UN and other humanitarian agencies. Rather, it has always been the occupying power, Israel's lack of political will and the deliberately created obstacles. We call on Israel to fulfill its obligations as the occupying power under international humanitarian law by opening all border crossings, fully restoring humanitarian access, and supporting the UN in providing assistance in line with the humanitarian principles, to truly alleviate the humanitarian disaster on the ground.
China reiterates that the long-unfulfilled aspiration for an independent Palestinian state is a fundamental reason preventing the solution to the Palestinian question and the root cause of the recurrent volatility of the Palestinian-Israeli situation. The Palestinian people's right to statehood, their right to survival and right to return must no longer be ignored. Israel's recent approval of a settlement expansion plan in the E1 area of the West Bank will severely undermine the contiguity of the Palestinian territory, to the detriment of the foundation of a Palestinian statehood. The international community must build on the positive momentum of the high-level meeting on the implementation of the two-State solution, reinvigorate the political prospect of the two-State solution with the utmost urgency, firmly reject any forced displacement of the Palestinian people, and oppose any dangerous attempts to annex the West Bank and Gaza.
President,
When peace is absent in the Middle East, peace is elusive for the world. At present, the Middle East situation remains complex and fragile, with multiple hotspot issues intertwined. However, the question of Palestine remains central to the Middle East issue. China supports the Council in taking all necessary actions to achieve a ceasefire, end the fighting in Gaza, and alleviate the humanitarian disaster. We call on all countries, particularly the country with significant influence over the parties concerned, to uphold a just and responsible position and play a constructive part. China will continue to work with the international community towards ending the war in Gaza, advancing the implementation of the two-State solution, and ultimately achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution of the Palestinian question, so that both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples can live in shared tranquility and happiness.
I thank you, President.