Beijing Officials Urge Ceasefire, Aid Delivery in Gaza Crisis

Arab and Muslim ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine, and the Organizations for Islamic Cooperation are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They are on a visit to Beijing as their first stop among five countries to negotiate an end to hostilities and allow humanitarian aid to enter the devastated Palestinian enclave.

The delegation aims to send a clear signal of support for their cause by applying pressure on the West to reject Israel’s justification of its actions against the Palestinians as self-defense. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized the need to stop the fighting and killings immediately and deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

Israel’s ambassador to Beijing, Irit Ben-Abba, expressed hope that there would be no declaration of a ceasefire from this visit. She also called for discussions about the hostages captured by Hamas. However, China’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi affirmed Beijing’s support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and their national rights.

China has repeatedly called for de-escalation between Israel and Palestine and for the pursuit of a two-state solution for an independent Palestine. They aim to ease the humanitarian crisis and work towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. China’s special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, has been engaging officials from Israel and the Palestinian Authority as well as other regional actors such as the Arab League and EU in discussions about these solutions.

Overall, it is clear that both sides are seeking a peaceful resolution to this longstanding conflict through diplomatic means. The international community has an important role to play in supporting this effort by pushing for accountability from all parties involved and working towards finding a solution that respects international law and upholds human rights.