BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday urged Israel to put an end to the “humanitarian disasters” in Gaza during a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday, according to state media reports.
Wang emphasized that “humanitarian disasters in Gaza should not continue” and that “countering violence with violence cannot truly address the legitimate concerns of all parties.” He urged all parties involved to act with caution to avoid exacerbating tensions between Israel and Iran, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The Chinese foreign minister called for an “immediate, complete, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza” and demanded the release of all hostages.
His statements come amidst a devastating Israeli bombardment campaign in Gaza. Israeli bombardments since October 7 last year have killed more than 42,289 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza, a figure corroborated by the United Nations.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has conducted extensive bombardments across the Palestinian territory, resulting in the displacement of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
Meanwhile, Israel has also launched military operations and airstrikes across Lebanon. Since September 23, Israel has intensified its air campaign in southern and eastern Lebanon, killing more than 1,300 people.
Earlier this month, China evacuated 215 of its nationals from Lebanon. Beijing has consistently called for peace talks as a means to resolve the crisis in Gaza. In July, China brokered a “national unity” deal among Hamas, Fatah, and other Palestinian factions to govern Gaza collectively following the outbreak of war.
