China urges Israel to end its military operations in Gaza

A Chinese envoy on Thursday urged Israel to end its military operations in Gaza and stop any action that might lead the region into another catastrophe.

"China urges Israel to abandon its obsession with the use of force and its illusion of seeking a complete military victory, immediately end its military operations in Gaza, cease infringements on Lebanon's sovereignty and security, and stop any risk-taking that might plunge the region into another catastrophe," Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council briefing on the situation, including the Palestinian question.

Geng hailed that the UN General Assembly (UNGA) emergency special session on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a draft resolution tabled by the State of Palestine demanding the implementation of the International Court of Justice advisory opinion, saying the resolution is a "historic landmark" at this critical juncture.

The UNGA resolution demands Israel to end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, urges all parties to stop arming Israel in its maintenance of the occupation, reaffirms that international rule of law must be upheld, and calls for the accelerated implementation of the two-state solution, Geng pointed out.

He stressed the UNGA resolution embodies the broad consensus of the international community in promoting the resolution of the question of Palestine and testifies to the resolve of the international community to uphold justice and realize peace in the Middle East.

The Security Council should heed the calls of the international community and respond effectively, Geng added.

The Chinese envoy recalled that more than three months ago, when pushing for the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2735, the U.S. claimed that Israel had accepted the ceasefire deal, but facts seem to indicate otherwise.

"For more than three months, we have borne witness instead to the constantly intensifying Israeli military operations, mounting number of conditions for negotiations, and escalating provocations," said Geng, adding that not a single moment should be wasted in the quest for a lasting ceasefire and easing of humanitarian catastrophe, but the U.S. instead has repeatedly asked for more time and patience for diplomatic efforts.

"In the meantime, the Gazan civilians are paying for the time and patience with their lives and suffering. How come the time and patience needed by the U.S. are so costly?" Geng noted.

Noting the spillover effect of the continued fighting in Gaza is manifesting itself at a greater pace and Lebanon and Israel are on the verge of all-out conflicts, Geng said China supports the UN Security Council in using all available options in its toolbox to promote the implementation of resolutions and taking further actions to put an early end to the conflict, mitigate humanitarian catastrophe, and realize peace in the Middle East at an early date.