China has called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law and to ensure the rapid and safe entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Speaking at a United Nations Security Council briefing on the Middle East, China's permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
Fu described the situation in Gaza as a “man-made humanitarian disaster” and a serious violation of international law. He emphasized that millions of people are suffering from extreme shortages of essential supplies, including water, electricity, food, medication, and fuel. “Millions of people are struggling with hunger, disease, pain, and despair,” Fu said.
He pointed out that Gaza has been under blockade for nine months, effectively turning it into an “open-air prison” for over two million residents. Fu criticized the closure of the Rafah crossing due to military operations, noting that thousands of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid are waiting to enter Gaza. “The existing crossing points are far from being able to meet the demand for humanitarian aid,” he stated, underscoring the necessity of land transport routes to expand humanitarian access.
Fu also expressed concern over the challenges faced by humanitarian workers, who often encounter obstacles and face unreasonable accusations. He condemned attacks on humanitarian agencies' facilities and noted that over 200 humanitarian workers have lost their lives in the conflict. Such losses are “unprecedented in history and shocking,” he said.
“Hunger cannot be weaponized, and humanitarian issues cannot be politicized,” Fu asserted, calling the exacerbation of the humanitarian disaster “unacceptable.” He urged Israel to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to facilitate the large-scale entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza.
Fu referenced the UN Security Council's adoption of Resolution 2720, which aims to expand humanitarian access but has not been fully implemented. He called for an examination of the reasons behind this shortfall and urged all concerned parties to remove obstacles to aid delivery.
Concluding his remarks, Fu emphasized that the fundamental solution to alleviate the humanitarian disaster is to achieve a lasting ceasefire and to relaunch efforts towards a two-state solution. He called on the international community to continue working towards this goal and expressed support for the Security Council to take further necessary actions.
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China urges Israel to fulfill humanitarian obligations in Gaza
cgtn.com
