China Calls For Israel-Gaza Ceasefire
Situation in Middle East Escalates
Overt Operator
October 23, 2023
Amid the escalating conflict in Gaza, China has expressed its willingness to "take any measures" that promote dialogue, secure a ceasefire, and restore peace, according to state-run China Central Television. This statement comes from Zhai Jun, China's special envoy on the Middle East, who is currently touring the region.
Zhai, a veteran diplomat, described the situation in Gaza as "very serious" on Monday, expressing concern over the potential for a large-scale ground conflict and the spread of armed conflicts to neighboring countries.
The Chinese envoy participated in Sunday's Cairo peace summit, where United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for swift action to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and the armed group Hamas, which he described as a "godawful nightmare."
The latest conflict, which began on October 7, has resulted in significant casualties after Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel. The attack killed at least 1,400 people and took over 200 captive. Israel responded by declaring war on the besieged Gaza Strip, leading to relentless bombardment. The death toll in Palestine has risen to at least 4,651.
During the Cairo meeting, Zhai called for an "immediate ceasefire and an end to the fighting as quickly as possible," according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zhai stated: "China believes that force is not a way to resolve the problem and that responding to violence with violence will only lead to a vicious circle of revenge."
China has a history of maintaining good relations with Israel, while also supporting the Palestinian cause for many decades.
In his ongoing diplomatic tour, Zhai is working to secure a channel for humanitarian supplies into the conflict-ridden territory and to facilitate a ceasefire. He has reportedly been in contact with various international parties to discuss the situation in the region.