UPDATE - China opposes displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, pushes for cease-fire

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT OF CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTER DURING MEETING WITH OIC DELEGATION; CHANGES HEADER, DECK; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Monday opposed forced displacement of Palestinians from the besieged Gaza, emphasizing that a cease-fire “should be implemented as a priority goal.”

During his meeting with a group of foreign ministers from key member nations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said: “A ceasefire is no longer a diplomatic rhetoric, but a matter of life and death for the people of Gaza.”

Foreign ministers of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Jordan met their Chinese counterpart Wang in Beijing to discuss the situation in Gaza, according to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry.

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha is part of the delegation.

The OIC group of top diplomats is also set to visit other capitals to seek an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

The Chinese top diplomat said a cease-fire is the “need of the people of Gaza … the wish of the vast majority of countries, and the unanimous voice of all peace-loving people around the world.”

Calling for the need to abide by international law and international humanitarian law, Wang said: “China opposes any forced displacement and relocation of Palestinian civilians.”

“Israel should stop the collective punishment of the people of Gaza and open a humanitarian corridor as soon as possible to prevent a wider humanitarian disaster,” he said, backing the diplomatic efforts of the OIC and Arab nations.

“Any arrangement involving the future and destiny of Palestine must obtain the consent of the Palestinian people and must also accommodate the legitimate concerns of regional countries,” said the Chinese foreign minister.

Reiterating Beijing’s position on Palestine, Wang said: “Any solution to the current situation must not deviate from the ‘two-state solution’ and should be conducive to regional peace and stability.”

“The United Nations Security Council must listen to the calls of Arab and Islamic countries and take responsible actions to cool down the situation,” he said.

China as the rotating chair of the Security Council, Wang said: “Will continue to strengthen coordination with Arab and Islamic countries, build consensus, and promote the Security Council to take further meaningful actions on the situation in Gaza.”