China on Tuesday called on the international community to take urgent action to curb escalating violence in the Palestine-Israel conflict, save civilian lives and uphold justice.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the Palestine-Israel issue, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong expressed deep concern over the recent escalation in the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and sorrow over the growing civilian casualties caused by continued violence.

"Against the backdrop of increasing instability in the region, the Palestinian issue must not be ignored or marginalized," Fu said, urging the international community to act swiftly to contain the violence, protect innocent lives and safeguard fairness and justice.

He said the situation in the West Bank and Gaza has sharply deteriorated in recent months, with the Palestinian people enduring increasingly severe hardships. The fundamental reason, he said, lies in the failure to uphold basic principles of international law and the long-standing disregard for the Palestinian people's rights to survival and development.

The international community must further build consensus, correct actions and rhetoric that deny or infringe upon the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, ensure equal rights for Palestinians and uphold international fairness and justice, Fu said.

Fu called on Israel to halt settlement activities in the West Bank, curb settler violence and ensure accountability. He also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling on Israel and relevant parties to sincerely and fully implement the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

He also urged Israel to abide by international humanitarian law and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid access, while calling on influential countries to take concrete steps to ease tensions.

Fu stressed that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian issue. The international community should fully respect the will of the Palestinian people and work toward the early realization of an independent Palestinian state, he said.

"China has always stood on the side of peace, justice and conscience on the Palestinian issue," Fu said, adding that China will continue to support the Palestinian people's legitimate pursuit of national rights and work for an early end to their suffering and a return of stability and peace to the region.