Arab and Muslim ministers visiting Beijing on the first leg of their tour to advocate for an end to hostilities in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid, have called for an immediate ceasefire. The delegation, consisting of officials from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, among others, is set to meet with representatives from each of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
One of the key objectives of the delegation is to put pressure on the West to reject Israel’s justification of its actions against Palestinians as self-defense. The extraordinary joint Islamic-Arab summit held in Riyadh this month also urged the International Criminal Court to investigate the “war crimes and crimes against humanity that Israel is committing” in the Palestinian territories.
Saudi Arabia, in particular, has been actively seeking an end to hostilities in Gaza and has gathered Arab and Muslim leaders to reinforce this message. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized the need to stop the fighting and killings immediately and to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry expressed the hope for a stronger role from China and other great powers to halt the attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. He also pointed out that certain major countries provide cover for the current Israeli attacks.
The delegation’s visit comes in the wake of a deadly cross-border rampage by Hamas into Israel on October 7, which resulted in the taking of around 240 hostages. In response, Israel invaded the Gaza Strip with the intention of eradicating the Islamist militant group. The Hamas-run government in Gaza claims that at least 13,000 Palestinians, including 5,500 children, have been killed in Israeli bombardments since then.
The Israeli ambassador to Beijing, Irit Ben-Abba, expressed her hope that the delegation would not make any statements about a ceasefire, stating that now is not the time. Instead, she urged the delegation to focus on the immediate release of the hostages captured by Hamas and to discuss Egypt’s role in facilitating humanitarian assistance.
China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, welcomed the delegation and emphasized China’s longstanding support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate national rights and interests. He referred to China as a “good friend and brother of Arab and Muslim countries.” China has consistently called for de-escalation since the start of the hostilities, advocating for a two-state solution for an independent Palestine.
China’s diplomatic efforts have gained momentum following the end of its nearly three-year COVID lockdowns. Chinese President Xi Jinping has initiated a diplomatic push to counter the influence of the United States and its allies, whom he believes seek to contain and suppress China. As part of this strategy, China has deepened alliances with non-Western-led multilateral groups, such as the BRICS bloc of nations, and strengthened ties with countries in the Middle East and the Global South.
The visit of the Arab and Muslim ministers to Beijing serves as a significant step towards garnering international support for an end to the Gaza war and the provision of essential humanitarian aid. By engaging with China and other major powers, the delegation aims to amplify their call for peace and justice in the region.
Source: TimesKuwait
