'Two-state solution' still viable solution for Palestine question

Israel has rejected Hamas' proposed changes to the Gaza ceasefire deal, Egyptian sources said on Wednesday.

Tel Aviv refused to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remains of Israeli captives held by Hamas, rejected a Hamas-proposed map for the redeployment of Israeli forces in Gaza, and declined to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, a key border strip between Gaza and Egypt. Besides, Israel's continued military offensive in Gaza and its closure of border crossings have led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, with the United Nations saying that a widespread famine was unfolding in Gaza.

Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip since Hamas' attacks on Oct 7, 2023, has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, injured over 146,000 others, and caused massive destruction, according to an update by Gaza's health authorities on Wednesday.

With no sign of an end to the conflict, the immediate priority is to achieve a full ceasefire in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, creating the necessary conditions for realizing a "two-state solution".

That's also the central message that Chinese envoy Zhai Jun delivered at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held at the UN Headquarters in New York from Monday to Wednesday.

It is clear for a long time now that Tel Aviv's objective is neither a ceasefire nor the release of hostages — it is the annexation of the Gaza Strip.

"We warn of the dangers of the occupation's plans for the gradual annexation of the Gaza Strip," the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday. The ministry considers Israel's move "a conspiracy to forcibly displace the population of the Strip and undermine the opportunity to establish a Palestinian state on the ground".

Israel, as well as its major backer the United States, should realize that any attempt to forcibly alter Gaza's status or encroach upon West Bank territory will not bring peace. Such actions will only ignite further instability and undermine the prospects for the "two-state solution", which remains the only viable path for resolving the Palestinian question.

China strongly supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, enjoying full sovereignty, Zhai said at the UN conference.

All countries that strive for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestine question oppose any actions that violate international law and seek to undermine the "two-state solution". The UN should play a leading role in prompting relevant stakeholders to come up with a clear timeline and a roadmap for its implementation. China calls for a ceasefire with maximum urgency and for de-escalation of the humanitarian crisis; upholding the principle of "Palestinians governing Palestine" to advance governance in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; supporting Palestinian internal unity and assisting Palestine with its capacity-building in governance and improvement of economic resilience.

The security of Israel can only be based on the security of its neighbors and regional reconciliation. If it continues to use force to annex its neighboring regions to build a so-called buffer zone for its own security, the "security" it is fighting for will only be a castle built on sand.

The security of all countries in the region is interconnected, and a unilateral approach to security will not work; only collective security can pave the way for lasting peace.

Tel Aviv needs to demonstrate the flexibility, political wisdom and strategic foresight to replace its unilateral approach with a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security approach for long-term peace in the Middle East. Also, it shouldn't take more lives and another humanitarian crisis for the Israeli people to realize that they have only become more insecure compared with the situation before Oct 7, 2023. Israel's military operations have far exceeded retaliation, instead becoming maneuvers of some politicians for their own narrow ends.

The question is for how long Israelis will continue to allow themselves to be hoodwinked for a "security" based on fighting, hatred and manipulation.

- Li Yang, China Daily