As the Spring Festival approaches, the festive atmosphere increases. As we welcome the Year of the Dragon with joy, in the Gaza Strip thousands of kilometers away, the war continues, lives are being lost and the repercussions are expanding, negatively affecting peace and stability in the region. Since the outbreak of this round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict more than a hundred days ago, there are two very different situations and ways of dealing with the conflict, which is thoughtful for everyone.
Commitment to principles versus double standards
Since the outbreak of the conflict, the international community has generally condemned all acts of violence against civilians and called for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians and the guarantee of humanitarian access to conflict areas, but some States have deliberately ignored the heavy casualties of Palestinian civilians and even repeatedly prevented the UN Security Council from adopting resolutions aimed at an immediate ceasefire, nothing but a "double standard" in every sense of the word.
On October 18, 2023, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield voted unilaterally against Brazil's draft resolution on a temporary ceasefire between Palestine and Israel.
Extending a helping hand in exchange for worsening the situation
According to statistics, the conflict in Gaza has so far resulted in more than a hundred thousand deaths and injuries, and the living system in Gaza is close to the brink of collapse. In the face of the dire humanitarian situation, many countries have made every effort to lend a helping hand and provide medical, livelihood and financial assistance to Gaza through bilateral and multilateral channels. The queue of trucks to cross the "corridor of life" at the Rafah crossing embodies the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity in human society. International organizations, led by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), are working around the clock to provide relief assistance to 2.2 million people under the continuous bombardment and comprehensive siege of Gaza. It is regrettable that, in light of the continued suffering of the Palestinian people, some States decided to suspend funding to UNRWA upon hearing the news that a small number of the Agency's staff were being accused of supporting terrorism, which would undoubtedly worsen the situation for the already difficult humanitarian aid work. Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary of the PLO's Executive Committee, said a decision by these countries would bring enormous political and humanitarian risks.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East provides material assistance to the people of Gaza.De-escalation of the situation in exchange for pouring oil on the fire
The language of force does not solve any problem, but will provoke greater disasters and crises, and here is the general consensus of the international community. Since last October, the various parties have conducted intensive interactions to de-escalate the situation as quickly as possible, and committed to peace negotiations as the right direction. In this context, the United Nations and the Security Council held several meetings on the Palestinian issue, the leaders of the BRICS group held the virtual extraordinary summit on the Palestinian issue, Egypt hosted the peace summit in Cairo on the Palestinian issue, Saudi Arabia hosted the joint extraordinary summit of the leaders of Arab and Islamic countries, and the joint delegation of foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries visited the major major countries in the world. While most of the world seeks peace and takes action with the greatest urgency in order to calm the situation and restore peace, some countries are pouring oil on the fire, supplying weapons and ammunition, which has led to the expansion of the conflict in Gaza and the intensification of its repercussions, which is of great concern to the international community.
On November 21, 2023, President Xi Jinping attended the virtual extraordinary BRICS leaders' summit on the Palestinian issue, delivering an important speech entitled "Advancing Ceasefires and Achieving Lasting Peace and Security".
As a country seeking justice and progress, China has always stood by peace and justice on the Palestinian issue, the common aspirations of the majority of countries and the conscience of mankind. In this context, President Xi Jinping has put forward visions and calls on the Palestinian issue many times. After the outbreak of this round of conflict, China submitted China's "Position Document on the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict" to the UN Security Council, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the protection of civilians, the alleviation of the humanitarian situation, the implementation of the "two-state solution", the achievement of peaceful coexistence between the two states Palestine and Israel, and the harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish nations. China has also taken concrete measures to obtain the resolution from the UN Security Council, which demanded the extension of the humanitarian truce and humanitarian corridor, the protection of civilians and the facilitation of humanitarian assistance. China has also provided a large quantity of food, medicine and other urgent material humanitarian assistance through the Palestinian National Authority and United Nations agencies to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. China's calls and actions have been increasingly well received by the international community.
Peace and development is the common desire of all the peoples of the world. We believe that the light of justice will surely penetrate the darkness, and all peace- and justice-loving countries must stand in solidarity with each other, commit to objectivity and justice, take responsibility for peace and life, and make tireless efforts to find a comprehensive, just, lasting and early solution to the Palestinian question.