President, 

I thank France for requesting this meeting, and welcome the presence of Prime Minister Najib Mikati of Lebanon. I also thank Secretary-General Guterres for his briefing, which reminds us of the gravity of the current situation. 

The Lebanese people have just experienced the bloodiest week in decades. Thousands of communications devices were detonated simultaneously via remote control, causing heavy casualties of innocent civilians. China once again condemned such unscrupulous and indiscriminate attacks. While the Lebanese people were still reeling from the shock, bombs rained down from the sky. Israel launched multiple rounds of large-scale airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, leading to over 500 deaths and close to 2,000 injuries. China is seriously concerned about the current situation between Lebanon and Israel. We firmly support Lebanon in defending sovereignty, security, and national dignity, and strongly condemn acts that violate the basic norms governing international relations. We firmly oppose any indiscriminate attacks against civilians that breach the red line of international humanitarian law. We emphasize the importance of effectively guaranteeing the safety and security of UN peacekeepers. UN personnel and assets must not be the target of armed attacks. 

President, 

Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict last October, the international community has been focusing all its efforts on promoting an immediate ceasefire and preventing the conflict from spilling over and expanding. But the reality is heading in the opposite direction. As world leaders gather here in New York, making an overwhelming call for the maintenance of peace in the Middle East in the GA general debate, Israel has chosen to expand the conflict. This is nothing short of a mockery of international justice and the authority of international law. 

The Middle East cannot afford another war. It is imperative to stop military adventurism and facilitate deescalation. We welcome the appeal of Secretary-General Guterres and the ongoing mediation efforts by the UN. We note that Lebanon has stated that it is seeking a diplomatic solution. Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan issued a statement on September 25, pointing out that deterioration will have serious consequences for the entire region. Other regional countries concerned have also stated that they want peace and seek no war. We urge Israel to make the right decision, put aside its obsession with the use of force, stop its military operations in Gaza, stop its violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, and stop adventurous acts that could drag the region into a new catastrophe. At the same time, we call on all relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid escalating the situation. 

President,

The Security Council bears the important responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. In the current situation, we understand that a vast majority of Council members support the Council in taking urgent actions to prevent the worsening of the situation. We hope that all Council members will demonstrate political will and leadership for peace, respond to the expectations of Lebanon and Arab states, and support the Council in taking strong, necessary actions without delay, in order to play an effective role in stopping the war and easing the situation. 

Thank you, President.