In brief
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Azerbaijan and warned Israel to stop the 'forced establishment' of West Bank settlements and to reverse that policy. Beijing, long a supporter of the Palestinian cause, maintains that a two‑state solution is the correct path and has been positioning itself as a mediator in Middle East conflicts. Despite past efforts—such as brokering an Iran‑Saudi reconciliation deal and leading ceasefire talks in the Gaza war—Israel’s settlement push and continued Gaza strikes have stalled progress toward a lasting peace. China stresses that it is willing to work with the international community to return parties to dialogue and seek a political resolution, noting the humanitarian toll in Gaza and the strategic threats from Iran. The statement follows Israel’s recent continuing strikes in Gaza and a stalled ceasefire agreement that remains contentious between Israel and Hamas.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told Israel to stop its 'forced establishment' of settlements in the West Bank and reverse its actions, his office said.
Wang told Israeli President Isaac Herzog in a face‑to‑face meeting on the sidelines of a conference in Azerbaijan that the Palestinian question is “the greatest historical injustice of this century” and urged Israel to halt its settlement construction.
China has long championed the Palestinian cause and insists that a two‑state solution is the correct direction. Beijing has also been positioning itself as a mediator, having brokered a 2023 deal that restored diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia and previously helped convene talks that proposed a ceasefire between the U.S.‑backed Israel and Iran.
While China’s efforts to address the Gaza war have focused on Palestinian unity—leading in 2024 to a 12‑point “national reconciliation government” draft for the West Bank and Gaza, which never materialised—Wang now says the immediate priority is to fully open Gaza and halt the spread of a humanitarian catastrophe.
China is ready to work with the international community to get parties back to dialogue and to seek a political solution, Wang added. He added that China would continue this partnership in the broader Middle East context.
In a post on X, Herzog said he was “pleased” to meet Wang and that the discussion focussed on bilateral relations and the Middle East situation, noting Israel’s desire for peace and the strategic threats from Iran and its affiliates.
China maintains close ties with Iran, being the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, and has faced criticism for its policies toward minority populations in Tibet and Xinjiang. Beijing rejects those claims and frames its actions as promoting economic development and social stability.
Over a year into the ceasefire, Gaza residents continue to experience repeated Israeli strikes, displacement and food insecurity. Although large‑scale bombardment has stopped, Israel has carried out almost daily strikes in Gaza, and Hamas‑run health figures—considered reliable by the UN—report over 1,400 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire began in October 2025.
The U.S.‑brokered ceasefire was initially intended as the first phase of a deal to end the Gaza war, which erupted following a devastating Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Progress into the deal’s next phase has stalled, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement’s terms.
