October 9, 2024
President,
I thank Algeria and Slovenia for requesting this meeting, and thank Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini and Ms. Lisa Doughten for their briefings.
Since October last year, the Gaza conflict and the situation in the Middle East have been at the forefront of the Council’s work. Yet the situation has not improved so far. Instead, it has continued to deteriorate. Two million people in Gaza are struggling under the blockade and fire, and one out of every fifty people has suffered violent death. The authority of international law seems to exist in name only for certain states, and the bottom line of international humanitarian law has been repeatedly shattered. The tragedy in Gaza is unimaginable and unbelievable in the 21st century. Like many Council members, China is shocked, disappointed, and outraged. However, we do not believe that the Palestinian people are destined to suffer. Nor do we believe that the Council as a collective body has exhausted all efforts to maintain peace.
We cannot accept that death and hunger have become the new normal in Gaza. Gaza is already an inferno on Earth. For the people there, humanitarian aid is the hope for survival. The role of UNRWA is indispensable and irreplaceable. China firmly opposes Israel’s smearing and suppression of UNRWA, and is gravely concerned about the relevant Knesset bills targeting the Agency. We urge Israel to stop weaponizing humanitarian assistance, lift the blockade of Gaza and the restrictions on humanitarian access, and cooperate fully with the UN and other humanitarian agencies.
We cannot allow the conflict to drag on and expand. We cannot just sit back and watch the entire Middle East plunging into an all-out war. The harsh reality has proved that winning a war does not necessarily mean having peace, military might alone cannot guarantee lasting security, and the obsession with force only creates more killings and hatred. Israel must cease all military operations in Gaza and put an end to the collective punishment of the people in Gaza. The intensified settlement activities and violence in the West Bank were a de-facto obliteration of the foundation of the two-State solution, and must stop immediately. Lebanon must not become the next Gaza. China calls on all parties to exercise restraint and achieve a ceasefire. We urge Israel in particular to stop taking actions that would further escalate the situation.
We cannot ignore the marginalization of the Council. There is broad consensus among the vast majority of Council members on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. After repeated vetoes of the Council’s demand for an immediate ceasefire, the US put forward a ceasefire initiative last May, claiming that Israel had accepted it and requesting the Council’s support for an agreement through diplomatic talks. However, over the past five months, the so-called diplomatic efforts seemed to be going in circles, and more time and patience have led to greater civilian casualties and more reckless military adventurism.
It is necessary to take a deep look at the current impasse and reaffirm some self-evident principles. Security Council resolutions are binding for all states, as stipulated in the UN Charter, and there is no room for distortion or interpretation. In this regard, the implementation of international humanitarian law is a non-negotiable obligation and cannot be used as a bargaining chip. The principles of international law are universally applicable to all states. Double standard and selective application would set a terrible precedent with wide ranging negative consequences.
We certainly cannot lose faith in genuine diplomacy. In this regard, we urge the country concerned to prioritize the saving of lives, show political will, take an impartial stand, give up its political calculations, and exert all available influence on the relevant party. At the same time, we support the Council in utilizing all options in its toolbox to take further actions to end the war and restore peace as soon as possible. I thank you, President.