China to do 'utmost' to keep peace for Palestine at top of UNSC agenda
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China's vow comes after taking the rotating presidency of the UNSC last week.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin gestures during a regular press conference in Beijing on May 9, 2023. (AP)
The Chinese Foreign Ministry relayed on Monday that it will do its best and utmost to bring back peace in the Palestinian territories while it maintains the presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
During a news conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, "China will do its utmost to encourage the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities, play its role, build consensus, and take responsible and meaningful actions as soon as possible to ease the current crisis and safeguard the safety of civilians in order to restore peace."
China, which reigned the rotating presidency of the UNSC last week, had its permanent representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, confirm that the war on Gaza is at the top of the Security Council's agenda in November, as per state media.
Read more: How the war on Gaza is tilting global power toward Russia, China: WSJ
"It is imperative to promote a cease-fire and halt the fighting, prevent further civilian casualties, prevent a larger-scale humanitarian disaster and prevent the conflict from spilling over," Zhang was cited as saying by the China Daily.
This comes after China's special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, just finished a tour of the region and convened with leaders of several nations and blamed the reason behind the war on the lack of guarantees for Palestinian rights.
Sino-Russian cooperation
During a press conference after the Cairo Summit for Peace in Egypt last week, Zhai said, "China is deeply concerned about the prospect of further escalation of the conflict," adding that the current situation in Gaza is critical.
"China opposes and strongly condemns all acts that harm civilians, opposes any acts that violate international law, and calls on all parties to maintain calm and restraint to prevent the situation from further deteriorating or even getting out of control, and to prevent a more serious humanitarian catastrophe," he stated.
China has been working with Russia to develop a plan for a ceasefire through their representatives in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) who have urged the United States to cooperate on a resolution that would ensure a ceasefire between the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza and the Israeli occupation.
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, underlined the United States' role in paralyzing the UN body's adoption of an immediate ceasefire.
Zhang said, "I hope that the US will earnestly adopt a responsible attitude and work together with members of the council."
Read next: Netanyahu says no ceasefire unless captives released
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have murdered with cold blood over 9,500 people in the Gaza Strip throughout the 30 days of aggression on the blockaded strip, the Government Media Office in Gaza reported on Saturday.
Salama Marouf, the director of the office, said Saturday evening that the total number of martyrs from the aggression has risen to 9,500, including at least 3,900 children and 2,509 women.
