Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has formally communicated to Israeli President Isaac Herzog that Israel must cease and reverse the "forced establishment" of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to a statement released by China's foreign ministry on Friday, Wang emphasized that Beijing considers the Palestinian question to be the most significant historical injustice of the current century.
During their discussion, Wang highlighted that fostering peace and reconciliation in the region remains the "cornerstone" of China's Middle East policy. He reaffirmed that China views the "two-state solution" as the only viable path toward a resolution. Wang stressed that the immediate priority must be to provide full access to the besieged Gaza Strip to prevent a humanitarian "catastrophe" from escalating further. He added that China is prepared to collaborate with the international community to encourage all involved parties to return to dialogue and consultation to seek a political settlement to the ongoing crisis.
The occupied West Bank, which has been under Israeli control since 1967, currently hosts more than 500,000 illegal Zionist settlers living in outposts and settlements that are considered illegal under international law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads a government with far-right elements, has significantly increased the approval of these illegal settlements.
According to United Nations data, settler violence against Palestinians—encompassing physical beatings, arson, and vandalism—averaged six incidents per day during the first half of this year. In a recent incident, settlers assaulted an AFP photographer who was documenting the harvest, stealing his camera and fracturing his ribs.
Regarding the situation in Gaza, Israel has continued to violate the agreed-upon "ceasefire" that had paused its military offensive. As of Thursday, the conflict has resulted in 1,505 deaths and 5,332 injuries among Palestinians. Since October 2023, the offensive has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and wounded over 175,000 others, according to the ministry. The military campaign has also resulted in the destruction of 90 percent of Gaza's infrastructure. Analysts have noted that these figures are likely undercounts, suggesting the actual death toll could reach approximately 200,000.
