AFTER three-and-a-half months of Israel’s murderous assault on Gaza, which has been entirely sustained by the United States, China’s proposal for a “large-scale” and “authoritative” international conference to discuss peace in Gaza is an important and judicious initiative that reflects the views of the overwhelming majority of global public opinion favouring an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.      

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the idea of a Gaza peace conference on January 14, during his trip to Egypt. China’s proposals include a call for the international community to take immediate action to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and to ensure rapid and barrier-free delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip — which is currently impossible due to Israel’s siege.

China has set out that the basic principle for discussing the future of Gaza must be “Palestinians governing Palestine.” China continues to make the case that the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the key to a lasting peace.