Israel 'turning deaf ear' to international community, ignoring calls for truce: China

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China has accused Israel of turning a deaf ear to the concerns of international community by paying no heed to calls for a humanitarian truce in Gaza.

“Regrettably and unacceptably,” China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun told the UN Security Council on Monday, “Israel, turning a deaf ear to the common concerns of the international community, has chosen to further escalate its military operations in Gaza and formally declared the launch of a ground assault.”

Zhang was referring to a UN General Assembly resolution passed last Friday which called for an immediate and durable humanitarian truce in Gaza leading to the cessation of hostilities.

Brazil, the Security Council’s current chair, hosted another meeting on Palestine on Monday at the request of the United Arab Emirates and China

“China solemnly calls on Israel as the occupying power to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, lift its full siege on Gaza, immediately rescind its emergency evacuation order, and expeditiously restore the supply of basic necessities so as to prevent an even larger humanitarian disaster,” said the Chinese ambassador, according to an official transcript.

He said the decades-long history of the Palestinian-Israeli issue has “taught us that military means is not the solution.”

“China solemnly calls on a certain major country with special influence on the parties concerned to put aside its self-interests and geopolitical considerations and make every effort to stop the war and restore peace,” said Zhang, in an apparent reference to the US.

Last weekend the Israeli army widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by Hamas.

Over 9,800 people have been killed in the conflict, including 8,306 Palestinians, including over 3,400 children, and 1,538 Israelis.