BEIJING: China on Tuesday strongly condemned the Israeli strike on the staff of the United Nations in southern Gaza and reiterated its demand to immediately stop fighting to prevent a larger-scale humanitarian disaster.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said during her regular daily briefing that Beijing was shocked by and strongly condemned the attack on the guesthouse for UN staff in southern Gaza. She said that China mourns the UN staff members killed in this round of conflict.
The spokesperson added that violence does not bring true security. The use of force would not bring lasting peace. The UN staff members’ safety must be effectively protected.
She said that China called on relevant parties to comply with international law, to be cool-headed and exercise maximum self-restraint, earnestly implement the UN General Assembly’s resolution adopted on 27 October, immediately stop the fighting, and prevent a larger-scale humanitarian disaster.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General said on Monday that the Israeli troops had struck a guesthouse for UN staff in the southern part of Gaza.
On the same day, the United Nations flag flew at half-mast at its New York headquarters in memory of the 101 UN staff members killed in Gaza since the eruption of the ongoing round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
China is shocked by and strongly condemns the strike on the UNRWA guesthouse in southern Gaza. We deeply mourn for the UN staff killed in this round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict. pic.twitter.com/vWUQSF3DwB
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) November 14, 2023
Safety of Chinese Nationals in Gaza
Regarding the safety of Chinese nationals in Gaza, the spokesperson said that amid the escalating Palestinian-Israeli fighting, the CPC Central Committee attached high importance to the safety of Chinese citizens in the conflict area.
She added that China’s diplomatic missions overseas maintained contact with Chinese citizens in the Gaza Strip all along. With the concerted efforts on different fronts, all the Chinese citizens have left Gaza safely in recent days.
