China's head of state Xi calls for "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza war
China's head of state Xi Jinping has called for an "immediate ceasefire" in the war between Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas and the release of "civilian prisoners". According to the state news agency Xinhua, Xi said at a special virtual summit of the Brics states Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa on Tuesday that "all parties to the conflict" should stop the shelling and fighting "immediately".
According to the report, Xi also called on the parties to the conflict to stop "all violence and attacks on civilians" and to release "civilian prisoners".
In Xi's remarks at the video conference, which were translated by an interpreter, the Chinese president also called for an "international peace conference" to end the Gaza war. This must also involve "an early solution to the Palestinian question" that is "comprehensive, just and sustainable" and without which there will be "no lasting peace" in the Middle East.
The video summit, which was organized by South Africa, focused on the Gaza war. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Israel of war crimes at the beginning of the discussions and said that the deliberate denial of medicine, fuel, food and water to the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip amounted to "genocide".
Hundreds of fighters from Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the USA and the EU, attacked Israel on 7 October and committed atrocities there, mainly against civilians. According to Israeli figures, around 1,200 people were killed and around 240 people were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
In response, Israel launched massive airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip, and later ground troops also entered the Palestinian territory. According to Hamas, which cannot be independently verified, around 13,300 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israeli attacks around six weeks ago
- Xi Jinping, China's head of state, urged for an "immediate ceasefire" in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, also requesting the release of "civilian prisoners."
- The Gaza war was a major focus during the virtual Brics summit, with Xi advocating for an "international peace conference" to bring an end to the conflict.
- Regarding the Gaza war, Xi stressed the need for an "early solution" to the Palestinian question, emphasizing it should be comprehensive, just, and sustainable for any lasting peace in the Middle East.
- At the summit, South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, accused Israel of committing war crimes, further stating that the denial of essential resources like medicine, fuel, food, and water to Gaza residents amounts to "genocide."
Source: www.ntv.de
