Special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, Zhai Jun, spoke on the phone with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, Amal Jadou, on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Zhai said that the Chinese side is deeply saddened by the intensification of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has resulted in the deaths and injuries of many innocent civilians, and is deeply concerned about the serious deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Palestine.

It is imperative that an immediate ceasefire be put in place to protect civilians, he said, calling on the international community to play an effective role in promoting the cooling of the situation and in providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.

The Chinese envoy noted the way out of the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel lies in the resumption of peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the realization of peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel.

China will continue to promote a ceasefire to stop the violence, help alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and actively promote peace and negotiations, so as to play a constructive role in promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, Zhai added.

Jadou appreciated China's long-standing just position on the Palestine question and its active promotion of peace talks. Palestine hopes that China will continue to play a constructive role under the current situation, he said.

(Cover: Palestinians search for survivors of Israeli aerial bombing on Jabaliya, near Gaza City, October, 2023. /CFP)