This was stated by China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, during an open session held Tuesday at the UN Security Council to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Fu explained that achieving peace in the Gaza Strip "remains elusive," noting that more than 52,000 people have been killed in the Strip over the past 19 months, while nearly two million people face the risk of forced displacement.
The Chinese delegate continued: "We call on Israel to seriously comply with its international legal obligations. A permanent ceasefire must be achieved. Violence or the use of force cannot achieve security. A ceasefire in Gaza is the best way to save lives and return the hostages."
He added, "This must be a top priority. China calls on Israel to abandon the illusion of achieving victory by force and end its military operations in Gaza and its attacks on Lebanon and Syria. Humanitarian aid to Gaza must resume and must not be diverted into a weapon."
On March 2, Israel closed the Gaza Strip's crossings to the entry of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid, causing an unprecedented deterioration in the humanitarian situation, according to local government and human rights reports.
The Chinese delegate expressed his country's concern about the continuing "deep chaos" in the Middle East and the Red Sea.
He pointed out that the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Syria constitute a violation of the sovereignty of these two countries, and that the US airstrikes on Yemen violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Houthi group said on Friday that the United States has launched more than 1,200 airstrikes and naval bombardments since mid-March, killing and wounding hundreds of civilians.
The Chinese delegate also called on Israel to immediately withdraw from Lebanese and Syrian territory.
Since 1967, Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights. It exploited the new situation in the country following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime, occupying the Syrian buffer zone and declaring the collapse of the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two sides.
