Window of opportunity must not be scorned

This is an editorial from China Daily.

On Nov 15, the United Nations Security Council under China's presidency adopted Resolution 2712, calling for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors "for a sufficient number of days" throughout the Gaza Strip. With the mediation of various parties, a four-day truce has been realized in the Palestinian enclave starting on Friday.

The pause in the fighting has not only allowed for the exchange of hostages and prisoners but also enabled international humanitarian aid to enter Gaza on a daily basis, meaning that essential supplies of food, medicines and fuel can be provided to the besieged Palestinians in Gaza. The temporary lull in the fighting has also provided residents in the Palestinian enclave with at least a brief respite from the incessant Israeli bombardment, which has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians.

In a further positive development, the two sides have since agreed to extend the truce for another two days and more hostages are expected to be released. This will not only facilitate more international aid entering Gaza but also extend the window of opportunity for international efforts aimed at giving the break in the fighting greater traction.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will preside over a high-level United Nations Security Council meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue on Wednesday, in the latest attempt to find a way to end the crisis.

It is hoped that through in-depth exchanges a firm international consensus can finally be agreed on concrete actions to realize a cease-fire and ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, paving the way for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue based on the two-state solution.

Since the latest violence erupted on Oct 7, China has steadfastly condemned all violence against civilians and called for an end to the fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas forces.

Addressing the BRICS extraordinary virtual summit on the Palestinian-Israeli issue on Nov 21, President Xi Jinping called on the parties to the conflict to end hostilities and implement an immediate cease-fire. He stressed that the only viable way to break the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli violence lies in the two-state solution.

All parties involved in the discussions in New York should do their utmost to ensure the meeting is instrumental to securing an end to the current hostilities and a return to dedicated efforts aimed at achieving a lasting political solution to bring an end to the cycle of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Ameliorating the festering animosity between the Israelis and the Palestinians through the shared security offered by the two-state solution is also at the heart of broader Middle East stability.

All parties should do their utmost to make the most of the current truce to set the region on the path to a peaceful and brighter future.