Trying To End The War In Gaza With Force May Not Work - China Says, Gives Reasons

China's envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, emphasized that "force is not a way to resolve" the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reiterating China's call for a ceasefire during discussions in Egypt, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday (Oct 22).

A "summit for peace" hosted by Egypt on Saturday saw UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urge swift action to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which has persisted for two weeks.

Zhai Jun held discussions with Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit on the sidelines of the summit. He stressed the need for an "immediate ceasefire and an end to the fighting as quickly as possible," as per the ministry's statement.

Highlighting China's stance, Zhai stated that resolving the conflict through force would only result in a cycle of revenge. The statement did not specifically mention Israel or Hamas.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated on October 7 when Hamas militants entered Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in the loss of over 1,400 lives, primarily civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

In response, Israel launched a retaliatory bombing campaign, causing casualties among Palestinians. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that over 4,600 Palestinians, mostly civilians, lost their lives due to the campaign.

China, while maintaining good relations with Israel, has consistently supported the Palestinian cause and advocated for a two-state solution.

Regarding the recent decision by the United States to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for a "humanitarian pause" in the Israel-Hamas conflict, China expressed deep disappointment. The U.S. justified its veto by noting that the resolution did not acknowledge Israel's right to defend itself.

During a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of preventing the conflict from further escalation and potential humanitarian crisis.