President,

I thank Algeria for requesting today’s meeting. I thank High Commissioner Volker Türk and Mr. Younes Al-Khatib for their briefings.

Shortly after the conclusion of Ramadan, the most sacred month for Muslims around the world, Gaza is once again shrouded in death and killing. Since March 17, when Israel launched massive assaults, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 300 children. The humanitarian situation on the ground has sharply deteriorated, with two million people deprived of essential supplies and many facing the prospects of yet another displacement. In the past two days alone, Israel’s military operations have forced over 100,000 people to flee Rafah. Gaza is plunging back into war. The priority now for the international community, especially the Security Council, is to step on the brakes before greater civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters occur. I will make three points. 

First, it is imperative to promote a lasting ceasefire in Gaza with a maximum sense of urgency. Renewing hostilities will only lead to more killing and hatred, and in no way represents the right approach to free hostages. Achieving a lasting ceasefire is the best way to save lives and bring hostages home. Recently, Israel announced its plans to expand ground offensive and occupy Gaza territory. We express serious concerns about this development, and urge Israel to immediately halt its military operations in Gaza. The guarantor countries of the agreement should uphold an impartial and responsible attitude, promote the continuous implementation of the agreement in all three phases, and achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. 

Second, concrete actions must be taken to restore humanitarian access to Gaza. Since March 2, when Israel cut off the flow of supplies into Gaza, no aid has arrived in Gaza for an entire month. Over two million Palestinians, who are already suffering in Gaza, now face yet another dire humanitarian crisis. China firmly opposes the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon and a bargaining chip. Lifting the blockade on Gaza and fully restoring humanitarian access is an obligation under international humanitarian law that Israel must fulfill as the occupying power. 

Third, attacks on humanitarian workers must be stopped. UN personnel and humanitarian workers must not be targeted. Yet this fundamental principle of international humanitarian law has been repeatedly violated in Gaza. Since the eruption of the current conflict, 408 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, making it the most dangerous place for humanitarian workers. On March 23, 15 humanitarian workers were killed by the Israeli military, and their bodies were not found until March 30 in a mass grave in Gaza. Also found near the grave were damaged vehicles with clear humanitarian markings. This is indeed shocking. We express our deepest condolences to the victims. We strongly condemn all attacks on UN personnel and humanitarian workers. We call for a thorough investigation into this incident to ensure accountability. 

While the conflict is raging in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank is extremely tense. Israel continues to escalate its military operations in the West Bank, forcibly expelling refugees from multiple camps, causing heavy civilian casualties, and displacing over 40,000 people. Israel continues to expand settlements, condone settler violence, and squeeze the living space of the Palestinian people, eroding the basis of the two-State solution. settlement activities are in breach of international law and Security Council resolutions, and should cease immediately. 

President, 

Implementing the two-State solution is the only viable way to resolve the question of Palestine. Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are all inseparable parts of the State of Palestine. China opposes any forced relocation of Gazans and any attempts to annex the territories of Gaza or the West Bank. We support the Gaza recovery and reconstruction plan initiated by Egypt and other Arab countries, and support the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine in the reconstruction process. The international community should redouble its efforts to advance the political process of the two-State solution and provide necessary guarantees. China will continue. to work tirelessly with the international community to end the conflict in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian plight, implement the two-State solution, and achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine.

Thank you. President.