China has called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza safely and swiftly.
During a briefing at the UN Security Council, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. He described the region as an \"open-air prison\" where over 2 million people are enduring extreme shortages of water, electricity, food, medication, and fuel.
Fu stated, \"Millions of people are struggling with hunger, disease, pain, and despair,\" labeling the circumstances as a man-made humanitarian disaster and a significant violation of international law. He criticized the ongoing blockade and the closure of the Rafah crossing, which has led to thousands of humanitarian aid trucks being delayed.
The Chinese representative stressed that existing crossing points are insufficient to meet the critical demand for aid. He called for enhanced land transport routes to expand humanitarian access and condemned the obstruction faced by humanitarian workers, noting that over 200 have lost their lives in the conflict.
Fu emphasized that \"hunger cannot be weaponized, humanitarian issues cannot be politicized,\" and urged Israel to ensure the rapid and safe entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza. He also advocated for a lasting ceasefire and the early relaunch of the two-state solution as fundamental steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
China supported the UN Security Council's Resolution 2720 aimed at expanding humanitarian access but noted that its implementation has been inadequate. Fu called on all parties to remove obstacles to large-scale humanitarian aid entry and encouraged the international community to continue efforts towards peace and stability in the region.
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China urges Israel to fulfill humanitarian obligations in Gaza
cgtn.com
