The UN Security Council discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli ground invasion at the request of Arab countries early on Tuesday. The council initially heard briefings from the United Nations and its agencies that highlighted the severity of the situation, the needs of the population, and their suffering due to the bombardment and aggression that have led to deaths and displacements.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun stated that the overwhelming majority in the UN General Assembly supported a humanitarian ceasefire last Friday during the emergency special session, but Israel "turned a deaf ear" to all this by starting its ground assault on the strip. Jun emphasized in his speech that Gaza has been under siege for 16 long years, where 2.3 million innocent people now live in "absolute fear." He added that if left unchecked, the situation would spiral further out of control, and a larger disaster would become inevitable, stressing that the peace process in the Middle East is now "on the brink of collapse."
The Chinese representative called for the cessation of all hostilities, the imposition of a humanitarian truce, and the prevention of escalation. He urged Israel to lift the siege, cancel eviction orders, and restore supplies of essential needs, calling for intensified diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages and return to a path of political settlement.
He stated that the people of Gaza do not need more promises but rather "concrete actions" that can achieve peace, restore the rule of law, and save civilian lives. He warned that "inaction is tantamount to a green light for the continuation of violence," cautioning that history will record the council's choice.
