China calls for Mideast cease-fire
Beijing ‘deeply concerned’ about escalating conflict between Palestine and Israel, civilian toll, envoy tells UN
China was shocked and disappointed at the Security Council’s failure to adopt a resolution that would have called for humanitarian pauses in Gaza, said Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, on Oct 18.
A Russian-drafted resolution was put to vote at night on Oct 16. It focused on the humanitarian concerns of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called for an immediate cease-fire to protect civilians. The draft was supported and cosponsored by many Arab countries. However, certain countries chose to vote against it. They said that they wanted more time to seek consensus on the basis of the draft resolution tabled by Brazil, noted Zhang.
Brazil and many other council members showed a constructive attitude and agreed to postpone the voting for 24 hours, and again till Oct 18.
In the past 40 hours, those countries have neither commented on nor expressed opposition to the Brazilian draft, making people believe that the council would be able to adopt a resolution. The final result is unbelievable, he said.
The situation on the ground in Gaza is quickly escalating. The council, therefore, must take swift and strong actions, he said.
China believes that although the Brazilian draft still had room for improvement, it in general reflected the common appeal of the international community and could represent the initial steps by the Security Council to establish a cease-fire. And it might be the only text on which the council could reach consensus under the current circumstances, he said.
“Certain countries talked about the importance for the council to take the right actions. However, the way they voted only makes us question their willingness to let the council take any actions and their sincerity to find a solution to the problem,” said Zhang.
In the final analysis, the council cannot stand still. The council should heed the just call of the Arab countries and the Palestinian people, and fulfill its obligations and play its due role in promoting a cease-fire, protecting civilians, and avoiding a greater humanitarian disaster, he said.
On Oct 16, Zhang said the protection of civilians in armed conflict is a red line under international humanitarian law.
The safety of UN staff members and humanitarian workers should be guaranteed, Zhang added. “China supported the use of diplomatic mediation to secure the early release of detainees,” he said.
More than 4,100 people have been killed in the conflict that began on Oct 7. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,778 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel.
US President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on Oct 18 in a show of support, a trip that began after Washington said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to let humanitarian aid reach besieged Gazans.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts in resolving the conflict have been stepped up. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed the latest developments in Gaza during a phone call with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Oct 16.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed on Oct 16 the possibility of releasing hostages during a phone conversation with Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Tunisian Parliament Speaker Ibrahim Bouderbala called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop the conflict.
Egyptian aid trucks moved closer on Oct 17 to the only entry to Gaza not controlled by Israel, Reuters quoted local and security sources as saying. It was unclear when they might pass through the crossing, which had been shut for days. Some 160 trucks had set off toward the border from the nearby Egyptian town of Al-Arish, where they had been waiting, Reuters reported.