On Sunday, China Foreign Minister Wang Yi, alongside his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, advocated for the creation of a Palestinian state and a ceasefire in Gaza. During a press conference, Wang Yi emphasized the importance of establishing an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The joint statement issued by the ministers called for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence, killing, and targeting of civilians and civilian establishments in the region, particularly in the context of the 100-day Israel-Hamas war.
Wang additionally discussed the conflict with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, according to Chinese state media Xinhua, with both sides agreeing a ceasefire “should be achieved as soon as possible to prevent the conflict from further spilling over.”
The war broke out when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, murdering some 1,200 people, mostly civilians butchered in their homes and at a music festival, and kidnapping over 240 to Gaza, prompting an Israeli military campaign aimed at vanquishing Hamas and returning the hostages.
The health ministry under Hamas control has reported a death toll of at least 23,968 Palestinians in Gaza. However, this figure lacks independent verification and is likely a combination of civilians and members of Hamas, some of whom may have been killed due to misfires of the terror group’s own rockets. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), they claim to have targeted and killed over 9,000 operatives in Gaza, with an additional 1,000 terrorists reportedly eliminated inside Israel on October 7.
Shoukry and Wang have jointly proposed the convening of an international summit to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their goal is to find a just, comprehensive, and enduring solution to the Palestinian issue, emphasizing the need to end the occupation and establish an independent, contiguous Palestinian state. China Foreign Minister
Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has been under the control of Hamas, following a violent coup. In contrast, the West Bank serves as the base for the Palestinian Authority, which is in opposition to Hamas. Both territories were captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. While Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, a blockade was subsequently imposed to isolate Hamas and prevent the group from acquiring weapons.