China calls for ceasefire, UN peace conference to end Israel-Gaza conflict
- Beijing has released its first position paper on the war, which includes a broad-based forum aimed at achieving the two-state solution
- The paper’s release comes at the end of China’s presidency of the UN Security Council, during a humanitarian pause
The paper – released on Wednesday, the day before the Qatar-mediated halt to the fighting was due to expire – also called for an “immediate and sustained” humanitarian truce.
Israel and Hamas announced minutes before the expiry on Thursday that they were extending the truce by at least one more day, with Qatar reporting it would continue under the same conditions that have seen hostages released in exchange for prisoners.
The US and Egypt reportedly took part in the mediation to extend the pause, which began on November 24, seven weeks into the deadliest conflict in Gaza since the militant group took control in 2006.
The five-point position paper emphasising the “active and constructive role” the UN Security Council should play in resolving the Palestine question was released at the end of China’s month in the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.
