China is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tensions and violence between Israel and Hamas, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries in the past week.
China’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, Zhai Jun, held a phone conversation with Saudi Arabia’s deputy foreign minister, Saud Al-Sati on Thursday, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Palestine and Israel and agreed that the international community should work together to urge the parties concerned to cease fire and resume dialogue as soon as possible. Zhai stressed that China stands on the side of peace, justice, and human rights, and supports the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine with full sovereignty.
China and Saudi Arabia will also work to advance the international community in conducting fair mediation and providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people to avoid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Palestine, especially in Gaza, said the Chinese envoy.