UN chief hails Gaza-Israel truce
China urges relevant parties to exercise restraint: FM
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, said his spokesperson.
Guterres is deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries, including children, from airstrikes on Gaza and the indiscriminate firing of rockets toward Israel from population centers in Gaza by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other militant groups, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson, in a statement.
The hostilities have contributed to a humanitarian emergency.
The secretary-general commended Egypt for its efforts carried out in close coordination with the United Nations to help restore calm. He called on all sides to observe the ceasefire, said Dujarric.
“He reaffirms the United Nations’ commitment to the achievement of the two-state solution based on relevant United Nations resolutions, international law, and prior agreements and the importance of restoring a political horizon. Only a negotiated sustainable political solution will end, once and for all, these devastating cycles of violence and lead to a peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis alike,” said the spokesperson.
Wang Wenbin, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told Monday’s regular media briefing that China firmly opposes and condemns all acts of violence against civilians.
“We welcome the ceasefire agreement and appreciate Egypt’s mediation efforts. At present, the cease-fire situation between Israel and Palestine is still fragile. We urge relevant parties, especially Israel, to exercise restraint, abide by relevant UN resolutions, avoid further escalation of conflicts and maintain stability of the situation between Israel and Palestine,” Wang said.
He pointed out that the fundamental reason for the repeated Israel-Palestine conflict is that the “two-state solution” has not yet been implemented, and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to build an independent state has not been realized for a long time.
“China calls for the convening of a larger scale, more authoritative and influential international peace conference to achieve a lasting and fair settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the ‘two-state solution.’ China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and will continue to make unremitting efforts to this cause,” Wang said.
The cease-fire agreement includes an Egyptian follow-up on releasing Palestinian prisoners, including Bassam al-Saadi, a PIJ senior leader who was arrested last week from home in the West Bank, and Khalil Awawda, whose health is deteriorating after months of hunger strike, said Mohammad alHindi, head of the PIJ political department.
It also includes easing the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007 and transporting fuel to the power station whose recent shut down for lack of fuel has influenced the health system in the coastal enclave.