China, UAE urge UN Security Council to adopt ‘actionable resolution’ on Gaza

ISTANBUL

China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have demanded the UN Security Council adopt an “actionable” resolution on Palestine.

“Amidst this catastrophic situation, we emphasize the need for the Security Council to act with urgency and adopt meaningful and actionable resolution,” said Ambassador Zhang Jun, China’s top diplomat at the UN, delivering a joint statement with his UAE counterpart Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh.

Backing the call for an urgent humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza by UN chief Antonio Guterres, Zhang told reporters in New York a humanitarian cease-fire now is desperately needed for rapid and unhindered humanitarian aid delivery.

China is the current rotating chair of the council which convened for the sixth time on Monday in an emergency session since Oct. 7, when the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel.

“We urge all parties to take steps urgently towards cessation of hostilities, to ensure the protection of civilians,” Zhang said.

He said parties to the conflict in Palestine should facilitate the sufficient and unhindered delivery of goods and services to all civilians throughout the Gaza Strip.

“This must include electricity, water, fuel, food, and medical supplies sustained and at a scale,” he added.

UAE Ambassador Nusseibeh said civilian facilities have been under attack in Gaza which is a “violation of international law.”

“We condemn all violations of international humanitarian law, all violence against civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks,” she said.

Reading part of the joint China-UAE statement, Nusseibeh said: “We condemn the 7th October attacks by Hamas on Israel.”

“We also condemn the indiscriminate attacks by Israel on the Gaza strip,” she added, demanding immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Last month, four different draft resolutions concerning Gaza were vetoed in the council.

Israel has launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 10,022 Palestinians, including 4,104 children and 2,641 women, have been killed in Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip.

In the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, Israeli forces and Jewish settlers have killed at least 160 Palestinians since the ongoing war began.

The Israeli death toll is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.