China calls for exerting more efforts to find just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause

China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuan has stressed his country’s support for establishing an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 line with Al-Quds as its capital, affirming that Beijing will continue working with the international community to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause.

Geng warned of the consequences of the recent search-and-arrest operations carried out by Israeli occupation forces in the occupied West Bank and that have resulted in a large number of Palestinian casualties, calling for exercising maximum self-restraint and refraining from any unilateral actions that may lead to miscalculation or escalation of tension.

“Israel, the occupying power, should earnestly fulfill its obligations under international law to protect civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories,” Geng said, warning against the continuous expansion of Israeli settlement building activities.

“The continued expansion of settlement activities, the encroachment on Palestinian land and the expropriation of Palestinian resources violate the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and make a contiguous, independent and sovereign Palestinian state even more elusive, the Chinese diplomat clarified.

He pointed out that China calls on Israel to cease all settlement activities and create conditions for the development of Palestinian communities in the West Bank in accordance with the Security Council Resolutions.

Geng went on to say that the Palestinian cause remains unresolved for more than 70 years. The flare-ups of violent conflicts, the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the spreading hopelessness are a constant reminder that the status quo in the occupied Palestinian territory is unsustainable. The international community cannot replace a comprehensive and just solution with piecemeal crisis management, nor can it make up for what is overdue on political and security fronts with limited economic and humanitarian measures.

The international community should facilitate the resumption of peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis as soon as possible, steer the Middle East peace process back on track and seek a long-term settlement on the basis of the two-state solution. In this regard, the Security Council is duty-bound to take active and robust actions to support the Palestinian people in restoring and exercising their inalienable rights and to live up to the expectations of generations of Palestinians of fairness and justice, he said, according to Xinhua.

He pointed out that Intra-Palestinian reconciliation is crucial to the cause of independent Palestinian statehood. China welcomes the internal reconciliation agreement reached by the Palestinian political factions in Algiers this month and commends the positive role played by Algeria. China believes that the agreement will be conducive to enhancing intra-Palestinian unity and promoting peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Hamda Mustafa