January 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a solemn reminder of the ongoing conflicts and tragedies around the world, including the situation in Gaza. On January 15, 2025, Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) reached a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. China's Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, highlighted that this moment offers a unique opportunity for de-escalation in the Middle East, while emphasizing that a ceasefire should not be viewed merely as a temporary pause before further conflicts erupt.
The year 2024 has been tumultuous for key regions in the Middle East. The Israel-Palestine conflict has resulted in unprecedented casualties, with Israeli military actions in Gaza leading to 47,000 Palestinian deaths and approximately 110,000 injuries by the end of the year. Additionally, the Houthis in Yemen have repeatedly targeted ships associated with Israel, the U.S., and the UK in the Red Sea. Hezbollah's support for Hamas has intensified into a conflict between Lebanon and Israel, during which Israel employed remote technology to cause explosions in thousands of radios and pagers in Lebanon. Tensions further escalated with a direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran. On November 27, 2024, opposition forces in Syria launched their first attack, successfully overthrowing Bashar al-Assad's government in just 12 days.
Amid these challenges, China has positioned itself as a staunch advocate for global peace. Over the past year, China has maintained a balanced stance on the Ukraine crisis, mediated peace talks in northern Myanmar, supported inclusive governance in Afghanistan, and remained committed to resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula. This consistent approach extends to its efforts in the Middle East.
China is uniquely poised to mediate the Middle East conflict. According to an Arab News/YouGov poll, around 80 percent of Palestinians surveyed view China as a potential mediator in the Israel-Palestine conflict. As the largest trading partner for major economies in the Middle East and Africa, China's economic connections have fostered strong bilateral relations, enhancing its role as a key player in regional stability.
China's commitment to peace in the Middle East is longstanding. In 2013, China proposed a four-point plan for Palestine, advocating for the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. In 2024, China consistently voted in favor of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the creation of humanitarian aid corridors at the UN Security Council and General Assembly. On May 30, 2024, the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was held in Beijing, attended by heads of state from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, and Bahrain. Furthermore, in July 2024, China invited 14 Palestinian political factions to visit, culminating in the Beijing Declaration, which promoted internal reconciliation within Palestine and supported the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
