President, 

Today, we are meeting in this hall for the emergency special session of the General Assembly. This is because the US has once again single-handedly exercised its veto, paralyzing the Security Council and preventing it from taking the necessary actions to promote a ceasefire in Gaza. On the question of Palestine, the abuse of the veto by the United States is totally unjustified. To ameliorate the detrimental effects of the veto, Indonesia and other countries have submitted two draft resolutions. One demands an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian access. And the other calls on Israel to rescind the bills against UNRWA so as to guarantee its normal functioning, and also appeals to the international community to scale up its support to the Agency. The two draft resolutions speak volumes about the call for justice by the international community. China will vote in favor of the two draft resolutions. 

The conflict in Gaza has dragged on for 14 months. Gaza has been reduced to rubble, and more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed. The survivors, deprived of the most basic necessities, are struggling in despair. In this unprecedented catastrophe, we have seen indiscriminate bombing and disregard for civilian lives reach appalling proportions; we have seen an individual country unscrupulously condone and shield its allies; and we have seen the selective application of international law and double standards reach unprecedented levels. One cannot help but wonder, have the rules and systems established by the UN over its 80 years of existence become completely irrelevant and useless? Is the world going back to the age where the law of the jungle rules the day? Our answer is this: the world cannot go back to the age of the jungle. Nor should the law of the jungle become the new normal. 

We must push for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. A ceasefire is a prerequisite for saving lives and restoring peace. Linking the ceasefire to other issues or even conversely setting preconditions for a ceasefire is tantamount to green-lighting the continuation of war and condoning the continuation of killing. 

We must uphold the authority of international law. There must be no exceptions in fulfilling obligations under international law. Israel, as the occupying power, must assume its obligations under IHL and effectively remove all impediments to humanitarian access, ensure the orderly distribution of goods throughout Gaza, and guarantee the safety and security of humanitarian agencies and their personnel. 

In particular, we must support and guarantee the normal functioning of UNRWA. The Agency is a source of support for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region. More importantly, for the people of Gaza, it is a lifeline that has no substitute. We urge Israel to cease its suppression and restrictions imposed on humanitarian organizations such as UNRWA. We call on traditional donor countries to continue their support for UNRWA and refrain from participating in the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. 

We must revitalize the two-State solution with utmost urgency. The two states living side by side and sharing security and development is the only way to achieve peace for Palestine and Israel. The international community should bolster support and provide assurance for the realization of the two-State solution. At present, it is necessary to help the Palestinians to strengthen their governance capacity and support them in reaching an agreement on the future arrangement for Gaza through internal consultations. At the same time, it is important to be vigilant and reject any unilateral moves that erode the foundation of the two-State solution, including further expansion of settlements in the West Bank and attempts to annex the West Bank. China supports the State of Palestine in becoming a full member of the UN. We support the holding of a larger scale, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to formulate a timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-State solution. China will continue to make unremitting efforts for an early end to the fighting, the restoration of peace in the region, and the realization of a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. 

Thank you, President.