Beijing supports 'full' UN membership for Palestinian state, says Chinese FM Wang Yi

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday says that Beijing supports the “full” membership of the Palestinian state in the United Nations.

“We support Palestine becoming a formal member of the United Nations,” foreign minister Wang Yi told journalists at a press conference.

Yi was addressing a press conference during China’s ’two-sessions’ meeting.

“The catastrophe in Gaza once again reminded the world that the fact that the Palestinian territories have been occupied for a long time can no longer be ignored,” Wang added.

The Chinese foreign minister added that the “long-cherished wish” of the Palestinian people to create an independent country can no longer be ignored and that “the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people cannot continue for generations without being corrected.”

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Wang said that China will advocate the speedy resumption of ceasefire talks between Israel and Gaza as well as push for a two-state solution to ensure peaceful coexistence between the two warring sides.

Beijing has been calling for an immediate ceasefire since the start of the current Israel-Hamas war in October last year.

‘Disgrace for civilisation’

“It is a tragedy for humankind and a disgrace for civilisation that today, in the 21st century, this humanitarian disaster cannot be stopped,” Wang told reporters at the press conference.

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“No reason can justify the continuation of the conflict, and no excuse can justify being desperately killed,” Wang said.

“The international community must act urgently, making an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities an overriding priority, and ensuring humanitarian relief an urgent moral responsibility,” he added.

Israel-Hamas truce talks

Meanwhile, a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is still in limbo as negotiation talks failed to make any breakthrough. The two warring parties have been blaming each other for stalling the discussions.

The United States on Tuesday revised language in a draft United Nations Security Council resolution to back “an immediate ceasefire of roughly six weeks in Gaza together with the release of all hostages,” according to the text seen by Reuters.

The US wants any Security Council support for a ceasefire to be linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

With inputs from agencies