China calls for ‘permanent and comprehensive’ Gaza ceasefire

BEIJING: China on Thursday said it hopes for a “permanent and comprehensive” ceasefire in Gaza, following the latest agreement between Israel and Hamas to release the remaining living hostages held in the war-torn territory.
“China hopes to achieve a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, effectively alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and ease regional tensions,” foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.
Guo reaffirmed China’s long-standing position that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to peace, stressing that “China advocates adhering to the principle that ‘Palestinians should govern Palestine.”
Beijing has consistently called for an immediate end to hostilities since the eruption of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, when Israel launched a large-scale military campaign following Hamas’s attacks. China has condemned civilian casualties, demanded unhindered humanitarian access, and urged the international community to take “practical steps” toward peace.
Over the past year, China has sought to play a greater diplomatic role in the Middle East, hosting envoys from both Israel and the Palestinian Authority and backing UN resolutions calling for a humanitarian truce. In March, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed an international peace conference under UN auspices to restart the stalled negotiations on a two-state solution.
Guo said the latest developments underscored the urgent need for all parties to “turn temporary truces into a durable peace,” adding that China would continue working with regional and global partners to support de-escalation and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. Monitoring Report