China’s foreign minister has called for an end to the violence against civilians in Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.<\/p>\n
“There can no longer be any justification for the continuation of the conflict and no excuse for the killing of civilians,” said Wang Yi on Thursday in Beijing at a press conference on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress.<\/p>\n
All prisoners must be released and the international community must support an immediate ceasefire, he said.<\/p>\n
Wang said that the vicious circle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could only be broken through the full implementation of a two-state solution and justice for the Palestinian people, thus destroying the breeding ground for extremist ideas.<\/p>\n
The quest for an independent state of Palestine can no longer be circumvented, he said.<\/p>\n
A two-state solution foresees the peaceful co-existence of Israel and a Palestinian state, based on the borders of the Palestinian Territories occupied by Israel since 1967 – the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Wang did not mention the massacre carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups on Israeli soil on October 7, which triggered Israel’s invasion of Gaza.<\/p>\n
China is trying to maintain its neutral position and maintain good relations with Israel and the Palestinians. Beijing is still to condemn the attacks by Hamas.<\/p>\n
Wang emphasized that China’s foreign policy this year will continue to be guided by the principles of State and Party leader Xi Jinping – mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and cooperation for mutual benefit.<\/p>\n