Chinese Envoy Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Amid Humanitarian Crisis
New York, The Gulf Observer: A Chinese envoy has reiterated the urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis that has ensued. Dai Bing, Charge d’Affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, emphasized this plea during a Security Council briefing on sustaining Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) commitments amid the accelerated drawdown of peace operations.
“As we speak, conflict in the Gaza Strip has been ongoing for over 300 days, resulting in the deaths of more than 10,000 women and leaving over a million Palestinian women and girls facing famine,” stated Dai Bing. He urged all parties to heed the “overwhelming consensus of the international community” and to jointly promote the “full and effective” implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions to achieve an immediate ceasefire, end the humanitarian catastrophe, and contain the conflict’s spillover effects.
Dai emphasized that preventing and resolving conflicts, and creating a peaceful environment for civilians, including women, are essential for advancing the WPS agenda. “No matter what transitions or adjustments peace operations undergo, the promotion of political settlement of hotspot issues should always be the most fundamental mandate,” he remarked.
With changing dynamics on the ground and varying national interests, some UN missions may need to withdraw, downsize, or adjust, Dai noted. He stressed the importance of ensuring smooth transitions while maintaining peace and stability in affected regions. China supports the United Nations and the Security Council in developing clear and feasible transition plans and exit strategies for peace operations, based on the will and national development strategies of the concerned countries.
Dai highlighted the crucial role of women in peace operations, referencing Security Council Resolution 1325, which advocates for women’s equal and full participation in peace processes and calls for enhanced protection of women and girls in conflict areas. “We support the countries concerned in elevating the protection of women’s rights and interests to the level of national will, and, along with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, making sustained investments in women’s empowerment and development, so as to continuously enhance women’s representation and voice in political, economic, cultural, and social affairs,” he said.
The envoy’s call underscores the need for urgent international action to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza and to ensure the protection and empowerment of women in conflict zones.
