China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Israel to immediately ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to halt and reverse settlement expansion in the West Bank during talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog this week. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, at Israel’s request.
Wang stressed the urgent need to fully open access routes into Gaza, where nearly two million civilians are facing dire conditions after months of conflict. “Two million civilians must not be left to struggle on the brink of survival, nor can this humanitarian catastrophe be allowed to spread,” Wang said, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has escalated since the outbreak of the latest war in October 2023, with United Nations agencies reporting over 70,000 deaths in Gaza, including about 20,000 children. More than 100,000 people have been injured, and nearly the entire population of the Gaza Strip remains displaced amid widespread destruction. While a ceasefire reached in October last year eased some immediate conditions, UN reports indicate that Israeli aid restrictions and frequent deadly attacks continue to affect the region.
In addition to humanitarian concerns in Gaza, Wang called on Israel to reverse its ongoing expansion of settlements in the West Bank. These settlements, built on territory occupied by Israel since 1967, are considered illegal under international law and remain a major point of contention. Wang described the Palestinian issue as “the greatest historical injustice of this century” and reaffirmed China’s support for a two-state solution. This framework envisions an independent Palestine existing alongside Israel based on pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem serving as the capital of both states.
The meeting marked Beijing’s highest-level engagement with Israel since the conflict began. Sino-Israeli relations have been strained amid differences over the war, with Israel expressing disappointment that China has not explicitly condemned Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza.
In response, a separate Israeli government statement quoted President Herzog as highlighting regional security threats to Israel, especially from Iran and its allied groups. Herzog also emphasized the importance of Sino-Israeli relations, particularly in trade, economic cooperation, and cultural exchanges. The Chinese statement noted Herzog’s recognition of China as a constructive influence in promoting peace and stability in the region and his willingness to maintain close communication.
During the summit’s sidelines, Wang also met with Palestinian Foreign Minister Versan Aghabekian Shahin, reaffirming China’s support for the Palestinian cause and calling on the international community to back the two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace.