President, 

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his briefing.

At present, the Middle East is mired in serious turmoil. Just after Israel and Iran reached a fragile ceasefire, Israel launched an attack on southern Lebanon, resulting in casualties. Meanwhile, the suffering of the Palestinian people continues to intensify. 

In Gaza, the humanitarian catastrophe has long defied description. Just since the resumption of the Israeli military offensive on March 18, over 6,000 people have died, and 80% of the territory has been put under emergency evacuation orders. As a result of the prolonged and extreme blockade and siege, more than 2 million people are facing severe food shortages. A large-scale famine is looming.

In the West Bank, Israel has advanced or approved over 9,000 illegal settlement housing units and demolished over 400 Palestinian structures in the past three months alone. The operations of the Israeli security forces have resulted in the death of over 40 Palestinians and the injury of over 1,000 people.

The tragedy of the Palestinian people has shaken international equity and justice and is a test of the human morality and conscience. The international community must not allow such suffering to continue, and must take urgent actions.

We strongly urge the full restoration of humanitarian access. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has been extremely critical. The Secretary-General’s report states that the militarized aid distribution mechanism promoted by the US and Israel violates the principles of impartiality, independence, and neutrality, and is not sufficient to alleviate the humanitarian situation, but rather poses additional danger to civilians. The Israeli military opened fire at civilians as they tried to approach distribution points, leading to the death of over 500 people and the injury of over 4,000 people. Seeking food must never mean seeking death. China firmly opposes the weaponization of humanitarian assistance, strongly condemns the attacks on civilians, and calls for a serious and full investigation and accountability. Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law as the occupying power by immediately lifting its blockade of Gaza, fully restoring humanitarian access, and supporting and cooperating with the UN and other humanitarian organizations in their work. 

We strongly call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Military means cannot achieve lasting peace. The continuation of the war will only lead to more casualties. Ceasefire negotiations and a political solution are the right way forward. We urge Israel to immediately stop all military operations in Gaza. Countries with significant influence on the parties concerned should act in an impartial and responsible manner and take effective actions to promote a ceasefire.

We strongly oppose unilateral actions that violate international law. International law and Security Council resolutions, such as Resolution 2334, set out the fundamental guidance for resolving the Palestinian question. Israel has continued to advance its settlement policy in the West Bank, resumed the land registration Area C, demolished Palestinian homes, condoned settler violence, and expanded its military operations. Such actions violate international law and Council resolutions and erode the foundation of an independent Palestinian state. We call on Israel to cease its attacks and settlement activities in the West Bank, curb settler violence, and lift restrictions on Palestinian banks. 

We strongly call for the revitalization of the two-State solution. The Palestinian question lies at the heart of the Middle East issue. The implementation of the two-State solution is the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question. The international community should strengthen unity and jointly provide support and guarantee to advance the political process of the two-State solution, and firmly oppose the forced transfer of Palestinians and the dangerous attempts to annex Gaza and the West Bank. We look forward to the early resumption of the high-level conference on the implementation of the two-State solution, China will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to put an end to the fighting in Gaza, ease the humanitarian catastrophe, implement the two-State solution, and work for a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.

Thank you, President.