On August 11, Fu Cong, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, spoke at the urgent open meeting of the Security Council regarding the Palestinian-Israeli issue. The content is as follows:
First of all, China expresses its deep condolences to the victims of the severe earthquake in Colombia, and offers sincere support to the families of the victims and those injured. It is believed that under the leadership of the Colombian government, the Colombian people will work together to overcome the disaster as soon as possible and rebuild their homes.
China supports the holding of this emergency meeting by the Security Council. This is very timely and necessary. I thank Deputy Special Coordinator Alakbarov and Deputy Executive Director Suleiman for their reports.
Our side is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Palestine as territories are being occupied. We are also deeply saddened by the increasing civilian casualties caused by ongoing violence. In this context of escalating unrest and instability, the Palestinian issue cannot be ignored or sidelined. The international community should act decisively and vigorously to curb violent conflicts, save innocent lives, and uphold fairness and justice. I would like to emphasize three points:
First, it is essential to establish the true origins and truly respect the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people. Over a period of time, the situation on the West Bank and Gaza has deteriorated rapidly, and the suffering endured by the Palestinian people has become increasingly severe. The root cause lies in the failure to abide by the basic principles of international law, as the right to life and development that the Palestinian people have enjoyed has been neglected for a long time. The lives of Palestinians are as precious as those of any other nation. The international community must establish a correct view of right and wrong, further build consensus, and promptly correct all statements and actions that deny or violate the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. It is necessary to ensure that the Palestinian people receive equal rights and to truly uphold international justice and fairness.
Secondly, decisive action must be taken to implement effective measures to stop violent conflicts. The situation on the West Bank is becoming increasingly dangerous. The occupying forces are advancing their settlement expansion plans, encroaching upon and destroying religious sites, closing refugee camps, and carrying out large-scale arrests. Violence among settlers is intensifying. The United Nations Palestinian Refugee Relief and Engineering Organization’s training center has been violently entered twice, which is shocking. Protecting civilians is not an empty slogan; it is an international legal obligation that the occupying forces must fulfill. Israel must implement Security Council Resolution 2334, stop settlement activities, prevent violence among settlers, and ensure strict accountability. The work of the Engineering Organization, as authorized, should be respected.
The situation in Gaza is equally concerning. After the Peace Committee announced progress in the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, Israel still refuses to stop its military operations in Gaza. Three hundred days have passed since the ceasefire was agreed upon, but a lasting ceasefire has not been achieved. The fundamental problem is not a lack of ceasefire plans, but a lack of political will to implement them. China calls on Israel and all relevant parties to sincerely and fully abide by the Gaza ceasefire agreement. It also calls on Israel to comply with international humanitarian law and lift restrictions on the access of humanitarian supplies. Countries that have a significant impact on the parties should take concrete actions to ease the situation.
Thirdly, it is essential to set a clear direction and make every effort to revive the political prospect of the “two-state solution”. The “two-state solution” is recognized by the international community as the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian issue. Any hesitation, doubt, or wavering is unacceptable. Gaza and the West Bank are integral parts of the Palestinian state. Israel should immediately end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and cease damaging the foundations of the Palestinian National Authority’s governance. The international community should fully respect the will of the Palestinian people and adhere to the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine” when promoting post-Gaza reconstruction and returning to the correct path of the “two-state solution”. Only in this way can Palestinian independence be achieved at an early date. Only then can peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis be realized, and lasting stability be established in the Middle East region.
China has always stood on the side of peace, justice, and conscience regarding the Palestinian issue. China will continue to support the just cause of the Palestinians in their struggle for legitimate national rights. We will strive to end the suffering of the Palestinian people at an early date and make unremitting efforts to restore stability in the region and bring peace to the people.
