China Welcomes UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza as Humanitarian Crisis Escalates
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution on Monday, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. China welcomed this decision, labeling it as “unequivocal and correct in its direction,” contrasting it with a previous US proposal that did not gain approval last week due to objections from China and Russia. Zhang Hanish, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, emphasized the “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and expressed hope that the resolution, if fully implemented, could still bring long-awaited relief to the people of Gaza.
China also urged all parties to end civilian harm and requested that humanitarian supplies could enter Gaza “in sufficient quantities” to reach those in need. The spokesperson praised the efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and encouraged all parties to restore funding for the organization. Additionally, China welcomed efforts from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to promote the release of hostages.
Last week, the US presented a resolution advocating for an “immediate and sustained ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages,” but it failed to pass due to vetoes from China and Russia. The US had previously vetoed UNSC resolutions over concerns that they would jeopardize sensitive negotiations.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad members were allegedly sheltering inside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza before the Israeli military raid on March 28, 2023. According to an eyewitness speaking under condition of anonymity, around 400 to 500 members and their families arrived at the hospital during mid-March. Some were identified as members of Hamas’ political branch, while others appeared to be armed militants carrying weapons within the hospital premises.
The Israeli military launched a major operation at Al-Shifa last Monday, claiming that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had embedded themselves within the hospital. Since then, approximately 500 militants have been detained, and about 170 have been killed. Thousands of civilians were also sheltering inside the medical complex during the Israeli military operation, and eyewitnesses reported that medical personnel and other civilians were also detained by Israeli troops.
The Israeli military has stated that it killed 180 people it described as “terrorists” at Al-Shifa and surrounding areas. The militants had allegedly fired upon Israeli forces from the emergency and maternity wards, and some buildings were reportedly destroyed by militants using explosives. However, there have been limited communications with people inside Al-Shifa due to the ongoing siege.
The Israeli military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that no patients, doctors, or medical teams were harmed and emphasized that the raid would continue until “the last terrorist is in our hands – alive or dead.” A high-ranking IDF officer, Yaron Finkelman, stated that the raid had “struck hundreds of terrorists,” apprehended hundreds more, and brought in significant operational and intelligence assets.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that patients were trapped inside Al-Shifa “without water, or food, or medical services,” and five patients had died on Saturday due to the Israeli raid on the facility. Witnesses described hundreds of civilians, including patients and medical staff, being trapped inside the hospital complex.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel “will not cease fire” after the UNSC passed a resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the release of hostages, and the expansion of aid into Gaza. Katz declared that Israel “will destroy Hamas” and would continue fighting until the last hostage was returned home.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday, expressing that the outcomes of the war in Gaza “will impact the region for decades to come.” The meeting, which lasted one-and-a-half hours, was held in private according to a statement released by the Israeli government.
On Monday, at least two people were killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state-run NNA news. The airstrikes hit an area near the border with Israel, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that IDF fighter jets had struck a Hezbollah military structure in the area of Meiss El Jabal. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that at least 316 people have been killed since October 2022 as a result of the Israeli aggression against southern Lebanon, and at least 91,300 people have been displaced from areas and towns close to the border with Israel.
Hamas stated that they had informed mediators that they would hold to their original position and vision, presented on March 14, which called for a complete ceasefire in Gaza. Israel has not responded to this proposal, according to Hamas. The group accused Benjamin Netanyahu and his government of obstructing negotiation efforts and thwarting reaching an agreement.
US officials remain in Doha to continue discussions over a ceasefire deal after CIA Director Bill Burns traveled to the Qatari capital for meetings with Israel’s intelligence chief and fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar. The current proposal includes the release of 40 Israeli hostages in exchange for around 700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, some of whom have life sentences. Progress has been made over the weekend, and optimism remains that an agreement will come together. Discussions are ongoing about the ability of Palestinians to move around Gaza during the expected six-week ceasefire, getting more humanitarian aid in, and the location of Israeli troops.
