Beijing: China on Thursday welcomed news of a cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement in Palestine's besieged enclave of Gaza, calling for effective implementation of the deal between Israel and Hamas. Beijing hopes 'the agreement can be effectively implemented to achieve a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire in the region,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.
According to Anadolu Agency, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani announced late Wednesday the success in reaching a cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip, noting that its implementation will begin Sunday. Guo stated that China supports the implementation of the cease-fire agreement and 'will continue to make positive efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza and assist in post-war reconstruction.'
In a related statement, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of restoring humanitarian assistance to Gaza and other conflict zones promptly. He expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement would be honored fully, reiterating Pakistan's call for a two-state solution in Palestine.
Indonesia echoed similar sentiments, with its Foreign Ministry urging immediate and comprehensive execution of the agreement to stop the loss of lives in Gaza. The ministry underscored that peace in Palestine is unattainable without ending Israel's occupation and establishing a sovereign Palestinian state, aligning with the two-state solution based on international parameters.
Malaysia also welcomed the development. Its Foreign Ministry described the agreement as a significant step towards ending the 15-month conflict, creating an opportunity to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The ministry emphasized the need for a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the path to regional peace and stability.
The interim Afghan Foreign Ministry also expressed approval of the cease-fire news. The announcement comes on day 467 of Israel's conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in over 156,000 Palestinian casualties, predominantly women and children. The war has left more than 11,000 people missing, causing widespread destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, marking it as a significant global humanitarian disaster.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.