Envoy urges Israel to let aid pass to Gaza

China's envoy to the United Nations on Wednesday expressed concern over the escalating tensions between Lebanon and Israel and emphasized the humanitarian disaster faced by the people of Gaza.

"We are all human. Why must those born in Gaza endure such suffering?" Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, told a Security Council meeting. He said that Israeli shelling has caused fires, and displaced Palestinian civilians have been burned alive.

"Two million people have been struggling on the brink of death for more than a year — how much longer must they wait for the hope of survival?" Fu continued.

Within a week, the people of Gaza have suffered numerous mass-casualty incidents due to Israeli airstrikes, with nearly 400 reportedly killed and almost 1,500 injured, Joyce Msuya, acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council.

Fu called on the US to take more actions to achieve an immediate cease-fire.

He said every member of the Security Council "has a responsibility to defend the effectiveness of these resolutions. In this regard, we especially hope that the United States will respond to the strong call of the international community and support the council in taking further actions to achieve an immediate cease-fire," he said.

Fu said that, according to reports, the United States has provided Israel with more than $17 billion in military aid since October 2023.

"Under the current circumstances, whether supplying weapons on such a large scale is conducive to achieving the objectives of the Security Council resolutions is a question that requires serious consideration," he added.

The envoy urged Israel to lift the blockade and restrictions on humanitarian access to the entire Gaza area and to cooperate with the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to facilitate security for the transportation of supplies and polio vaccines.

"Using hunger as a weapon of war is a serious war crime. Humanitarian organizations build the lifeline of Gaza. It is intolerable for them to face suppression, restrictions and even security threats," he said.

Fu emphasized the need to uphold and revitalize the effectiveness of Security Council resolutions. He noted that the council has adopted numerous resolutions on the situation in Gaza, calling for a cease-fire, but none have been effectively implemented.

"This has severely impacted the credibility of the entire United Nations system. Security Council resolutions are binding on all countries and must be executed," he said.

"We support the Security Council in utilizing all options available to ensure that its resolutions are carried out," he added. "It is unacceptable to allow the tragedy in Gaza to continue to develop, and it is equally unacceptable for the Security Council to remain collectively paralyzed," he said.

He called the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East "the pillar of humanitarian assistance in Gaza".

"China firmly opposes any smear and suppression against the agency," he said.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Wednesday alleged a new violation by Israel against its position near the southeastern Lebanese village of Kafr Kila. In recent days, Israeli forces have reportedly attacked UNIFIL positions numerous times, injuring peacekeepers and sparking international criticism.

The death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the beginning of the Hezbollah-Israeli conflict on Oct 8, 2023, reached 2,367, with 11,088 injured, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Wednesday.