Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, has accused Israel of seeking to bring an end to the Palestinian people’s presence on their historical land, as diplomats from Arab and Muslim-majority nations gather in Beijing for talks aimed at finding a solution to end the war in the Gaza Strip. The summit, hosted by China, marks a significant step in Beijing’s efforts to increase its international role. China has historically been sympathetic to the Palestinians and Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his concern over the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza, urging the international community to act urgently to prevent the war from spreading.
The spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip threatens peace, security, and stability in the region and the world. Egypt is making efforts to provide aid to Gaza but expressed frustration at Israel’s policy of obstructing the entry of aid. China, as the host of the summit, reiterated its support for a two-state solution to end the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 Palestinians in Gaza and 1,200 in Israel.
China’s Middle East envoy, Zhai Jun, recently visited the region to seek a solution to the conflict and has been in talks with Russia to cooperate in facilitating a two-state solution. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang emphasized Beijing’s commitment to justice and fairness in the conflict, stating that China stands with Arab and Muslim countries and is willing to make unremitting efforts to settle the war in Gaza as soon as possible.
Political analyst Ibrahim Fraihat suggests that China’s increased involvement in the conflict is a result of the US diminishing its role as a credible third party intervener by strongly supporting Israel. China, with its strong ties to Israel and the trust of the Palestinians, sees an opportunity to fill the power vacuum left by the US and assert itself as a credible mediator. This is further supported by China’s veto power at the UN Security Council, giving it additional weight in the international system.
The Beijing summit serves as a platform for Arab and Muslim-majority nations to discuss and strategize ways to end the war in Gaza. It also highlights China’s growing ambition to play a more prominent role in international affairs, particularly in regions where the US influence has waned. As the summit progresses, the world watches to see if China can effectively contribute to finding a lasting solution to the conflict and restore peace in the Middle East.
