Chinese envoy to UN calls on all parties, Israel in particular, to fully honor ceasefire agreement
Fu Cong photo: VCG
China's Permanent Representative to the UN Fu Cong called on all parties, especially Israel, to fully comply with the requirements of the ceasefire agreement and work toward a truly comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, during the public meeting at the UN Security Council on Israel-Palestine issue on Monday local time.We welcome the agreement reached on the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. However, peace between Palestine and Israel is still far from being achieved, and the suffering of civilians continues. We call on the international community to work harder with the greatest sense of urgency and unwavering political will toward restoring peace in the region, Fu said.
We note with concern that violent clashes persist despite the ceasefire. Israel has reportedly committed over 400 violations of the agreement, resulting in more than 300 civilian deaths in Gaza, Fu said.
A ceasefire means the complete cessation of all attacks, and should be observed by all parties in good faith. Any incident causing civilian casualties is unacceptable and repeated attacks must not become the new normal in Gaza, Fu said, noting that China urges all relevant parties, Israel in particular, to fully honor the ceasefire agreement and work toward a truly comprehensive and lasting peace.
The Chinese envoy continued that the humanitarian situation remains dire, with severe shortages of essential supplies and medical equipment. Humanitarian access to Gaza continues to face multiple obstacles, and the aid that does reach Gaza falls far short of the quantity specified in the ceasefire agreement.
Israel is under obligation to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. China urges Israel to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, open all crossing points, lift restrictions on humanitarian access, and ensure that UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies can carry out their relief operations, Fu said.
Moreover, the occupying power's continued settlement expansion and connivance of settler violence have further fueled the tensions in the West Bank, Fu said, urging Israel to cease all settlement activities, curb settler violence, and stop undermining the foundation of governance by the Palestinian Authority.
Fu also emphasized that implementing the two-State solution is the only way out. Both Gaza and the West Bank are inseparable parts of the Palestinian state.
Any future arrangements on Gaza should be guided by the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and respect the will of the Palestinian people. The international community must redouble efforts to advance the two-State solution, oppose any unilateral actions that undermine its foundation, and support the early realization of independent Palestinian statehood and its full UN membership, Fu said.
Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza near the line demarcating areas of Israeli control on Monday, underlining the struggle to broaden a fragile ceasefire deal approved over six weeks ago to global acclaim, Reuters reported.
Palestinian medics said Monday's incidents involved an Israeli drone firing a missile at a group of people east of Khan Younis, killing two and wounding another, and a tank shell killing a person on the eastern side of Gaza City, according to Reuters.
UN experts also warned that Israel’s continuing violations of the ceasefire in Gaza are threatening the fragile truce, urging all countries to ensure attacks against civilians cease immediately and unhindered delivery of aid, including medical aid, is allowed into the area, according to a statement on the UN website.
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