President,

I thank Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov for his briefing.

The Middle East, a cradle of human civilization, has long been plagued by conflict and displacement and remains the region with the highest concentration of global hotspots. Today, the Middle East once again stands at a historical crossroads. The security situation is sensitive and fragile, with multiple contradictions compounding one another. The question of Palestine remains at the core of the Middle East issue. The international community should further build consensus and work for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.

First, prioritizing the maintenance of peace and stability, all violence must cease immediately. We welcome the return of all hostages or the bodies of hostages to Israel. More than three months have passed since the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement was reached, yet military attacks have not ceased and civilian casualties continue to rise. The situation in the West Bank remains tense, with the occupying power continuing settlement expansion and condoning settler violence. China calls on the parties concerned, Israel in particular, to fully comply with the ceasefire agreement and work toward achieving a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Israel should immediately halt settlement activities and rein in settler violence.

Second, focusing on alleviating civilian suffering, humanitarian assistance to the occupied territory must be unimpeded. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, and access for humanitarian supplies continues to be restricted. We urge Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, open all crossing points, lift restrictions on the entry of humanitarian supplies, and stop suppressing humanitarian agencies. China expresses grave concern over the recent demolition and arson attack against facilities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem. Israel has an obligation to ensure UNRWA's privileges, immunities, and the normal performance of its mandate.

Third, guided by the two-State solution, post-conflict arrangements for Gaza should be advanced in a prudent manner. Gaza is the homeland of the Palestinian people, and post-conflict arrangements for Gaza bear directly on the political settlement of the Palestinian question. Any arrangements concerning the future of Gaza should adhere to the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine”, respect the will of the Palestinian people, take into account the legitimate concerns of countries in the Middle East, and align with the two-State solution. China will continue to support the central role of Palestine in post-conflict governance in Gaza. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and should continue to closely follow developments in Gaza and its post-conflict arrangements and play its due role.

President,

The situation concerning Iran has attracted widespread attention. Clouds of war are gathering over the Middle East, and tensions are steadily rising. Iran is an independent and sovereign country, and Iran's affairs should be decided by the Iranian people themselves. China hopes for and supports Iran in maintaining national stability and supports efforts to safeguard Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Force cannot resolve problems. Any military adventurism will only push the region into an unpredictable abyss. We call on all parties to abide by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and oppose the use or threat of force in international relations. China hopes that the United States and other relevant parties will heed the calls of the international community and countries in the region, do more to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, and avoid aggravating tensions or adding fuel to the fire.

President,

The Middle East belongs to the people of the Middle East. It is not an arena for major-power rivalry, nor should it become a victim of geopolitical competition by countries outside the region. China stands ready to work with the international community to respect the independent choices of the peoples of the Middle East, give due consideration to the legitimate concerns of regional countries, and jointly play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Thank you, President.