In brief
During a conference in Azerbaijan, China’s Wang Yi requested Israel halt its "forced establishment" of settlements in the West Bank. He urged a reversal of actions and full access to Gaza to stop the humanitarian crisis. Beijing maintains a historic stance in support of the Palestinian cause and has positioned itself as a mediator in Middle East conflicts, having brokered ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia and pushed for ceasefires. Israel, meanwhile, continues daily strikes in Gaza, which killed over 1,400 Palestinians since October 2025. Wang offered to work with the international community to restore dialogue and find a political solution, while Israeli President Herzog acknowledged the meeting and Israel’s security concerns.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi demanded that Israel stop its “forced establishment” of settlements in the West Bank, calling the practice a severe violation of international norms.
The appeal was made at a bilateral meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a conference hosted in Baku. Wang described the Palestinian issue as “the greatest historical injustice of this century” and urged Israel to reverse any settlement expansion immediately.
Beijing has long supported the Palestinian cause, insisting that a two‑state solution remains the “correct direction.” It has also been positioning itself as a neutral mediator in Middle Eastern disputes, recently brokering a diplomatic deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023 and contributing to a ceasefire proposal in the US‑Israel war over Iran earlier this year.
China’s focus on Gaza emphasizes facilitating unified Palestinian governance. In 2024, Beijing helped persuade rival factions to agree on an interim “national reconciliation government” for the occupied territories—a plan that has yet to be implemented.
Wang highlighted the immediate priority of opening Gaza fully and curbing the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. He offered China’s willingness to collaborate with the global community to return parties to the negotiation table and pursue a lasting political settlement.
Israeli President Herzog replied on the social‑media platform X with a note of appreciation for the meeting, noting Israel’s desire for peace and its strategic security concerns from Iran and its allies.
While large‑scale bombardment has ceased, Israel continues striking Gaza almost daily. Since the ceasefire began in October 2025, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, and the region remains precariously on the brink of a deeper crisis. The first phase of the ceasefire, brokered with U.S. involvement, has stalled, with both Israel and Hamas citing breaches of the agreement.
