Met with Israeli Ambassador, China Says "Ceasefire in Gaza Strip is Urgent Priority"

China, having learned about Iran's airstrikes on mainland Israel, reaffirmed its existing position that Israel should first halt its attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have been ongoing for over half a year.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 15th, Zhai Jun, China's Special Envoy on Middle East Affairs, met with Erelit Ben-Abba, the Israeli Ambassador to China, to exchange views on the situation in the Middle East.

In a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the meeting, the term "Yingyue" (應約, meaning "responding to an appointment") was used, indicating that the meeting was held at Israel's request. It also stated, "Ambassador Ben-Abba introduced the military strikes launched by Iran against Israel on the 14th and expressed Israel's position and concerns regarding issues such as the Gaza Strip conflict."

Erit Ben-Abba, Israeli Ambassador to China, met on the 15th (left), and Zai Jun, Chinese Special Envoy to the Middle East [Photo by Yonhap News]

In response, Special Envoy Zhai Jun explained China's principled stance on the Gaza Strip conflict and said, "China is deeply concerned about the current escalation of regional tensions" and added, "Conflicts and bloodshed do not serve the interests of any party."

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Special Envoy Zhai emphasized, "The urgent tasks are an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensuring humanitarian aid, the prompt release of all detainees, a political resolution of the Palestinian issue based on the 'two-state solution,' and the realization of peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine."

Earlier, the Israeli military announced that Iran launched over 360 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones targeting Israel between the night of the 13th and the morning of the 14th (local time), intercepting 99% of them.

Iran's airstrikes were retaliation 12 days after Israel bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the capital of Syria, on the 1st, eliminating a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This was also Iran's first full-scale attack on mainland Israel.

Regarding this, China stated through a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the previous day, "China appeals to the relevant parties to maintain calm and restraint to avoid further escalation of tensions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.