China urges restraint and political settlement in Middle East conflict

China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, on Tuesday, April 28, called on all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to work toward the early restoration of stability, warning that the situation has escalated sharply and is having far-reaching regional and global consequences.

Speaking at a UN Security Council open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Fu said the recent escalation has severely disrupted regional stability while also affecting the global economy and energy security. He described the current moment as a critical stage in the transition from war to peace.

“China urges all parties to seize this window of peace, exercise utmost restraint, demonstrate maximum sincerity, and remain steadfast in the direction of a political settlement to prevent any retrogression in the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations, and strive for the early restoration of stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region,” he said.

Fu stressed that the Palestinian question remains central to the broader Middle East issue and must not be sidelined under any circumstances. He called on all relevant parties, particularly Israel, to fully comply with the ceasefire arrangements in order to ensure a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire across Gaza.

He added that Israel must meet its obligations under international humanitarian law, remove all obstacles to humanitarian access, and ensure that aid agencies are able to carry out their work without hindrance.

Addressing developments in the West Bank, Fu said settlement activity is unacceptable and warned of the need to de-escalate tensions.

“Settlement activities contravene international law and Security Council resolutions. Prolonging the illegal occupation will not make either party feel safer. Rather, it will intensify a vicious cycle,” he said. “Israel must heed the strong appeals of the international community, immediately halt illegal settlement activities, effectively curb settler violence, and ensure robust accountability for all attacks.”

Fu also expressed concern over statements emerging from Israel opposing the two-state solution, noting that some voices have even threatened to undermine the prospect of establishing a Palestinian state.

He reaffirmed that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question, emphasising that any unilateral actions that weaken its foundation must be rejected. He added that any future political arrangements or mechanisms must adhere to the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and should support, rather than undermine, the two-state framework.

Fu further called on the international community to increase support for Palestine in order to advance the early establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He concluded by saying that China stands ready to continue working with the international community to help end the suffering of the Palestinian people, implement the two-state solution, and achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian question as soon as possible.

By Tamilla Hasanova