China calls for Gaza ceasefire at UN council meeting

China's envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and urged renewed international efforts toward a two-state solution, warning that escalating tensions across the Middle East are increasing humanitarian and economic risks.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said at a Security Council meeting on the Middle East that the current situation is "dealing a serious blow to regional stability and the global economy."

Fu said that the Palestinian question is "deteriorating at an accelerated pace," with ongoing hostilities in Gaza and expanding settlement activities in the West Bank undermining the basis for a two-state solution.

"Parties concerned, especially Israel, must fully observe the ceasefire agreement and achieve a genuine, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire," Fu said, urging Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, fully open border crossings, lift restrictions on humanitarian supplies, and stop attacks and pressure on humanitarian agencies, in particular" the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

He also noted the developments in the West Bank, saying that settlement expansion and settler violence have displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians. "Settlement activities seriously violate international law and Security Council Resolution 2334," he said.

Reaffirming China's position on a political settlement, Fu said "the only viable way to resolve the Palestinian question is the two-state solution." He added that "any arrangement must uphold the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine, respect the will of the Palestinian people, and contribute to, rather than undermine, the two-state solution."

Ahead of the meeting, representatives of Bahrain, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Pakistan, Somalia and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement opposing "the annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and any forcible displacement of the Palestinian people." The statement reaffirmed that such actions "violate international law, undermine peace efforts, and jeopardize the prospect of achieving a just and lasting peace."

The countries reiterated their commitment to a negotiated settlement based on relevant United Nations resolutions and the principle of two states living side by side in peace and security.

Dangerous situation

On Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned of the dangerous situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and called for the conclusion of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Israeli authorities' plans to implement the "Greater Israel" project pose a threat to the entire region and the world, undermine the entire political process, and violate UN resolutions and international law, Abbas said in a phone call with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Calling for an international stance to compel Israel to abandon its destructive policies, Abbas stressed the need for a comprehensive international conference to achieve peace, stability and security in the region, including ending the occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to achieve their freedom and independence.

Abbas welcomed the Gaza peace plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803 to halt the war and alleviate the Palestinians' suffering, adding, "We also welcomed Indonesia's participation in promoting stability and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip."

Xinhua contributed to this story.