Statement Condemning Israel's Attack on Humanitarian Ship

4 June 2010

The First Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between China and the GCC issued a statement in Beijing on 4 June 2010. The following is the full text:

Statement Condemning Israel's Attack on Humanitarian Ship

On the First Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the People's Republic of China and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) held in Beijing on 4 June 2010, the ministers in attendance at the meeting discussed Israel's attack on the humanitarian ship Mavi Marmara on 31 May 2010.

The ministers strongly condemned the attack and the use of violence by Israel on the high seas.

The ministers expressed sympathy to the bereaved families and voiced support for the Turkish government and people and other countries concerned.

The ministers called for the lifting of the blockade against the Palestinian people in Gaza according to the resolutions of the UN Security Council, particularly Resolution 1860.

The proximity talks between Palestine and Israel have been launched, and the peace process in the Middle East entered another sensitive period. Violent attack by Israel at this time set another obstacle in the peace process.

The ministers called for continued delivery of food, medicine, construction materials and other humanitarian supplies to Gaza through various means.

The ministers called on the United Nations to assume its responsibilities in keeping with the Charter of the United Nations and the international law, carry out an international investigation into the attack to realize justice, and take necessary measures to avoid the recurrence of similar incidents.