Romans 12:18 advises us to "if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." It seems China is striving to do just that by taking the reins at the UN Security Council, scheduling a meeting on the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas on November 29. Despite the ongoing war in the region, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is preparing to take a seat at the council table in an attempt to end the violence and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, "As China holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month, it will hold a meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue on November 29." Beijing desires that the dialogue will culminate in a ceasefire and an end to the clashes, ultimately helping to alleviate the distressing humanitarian predicament in Gaza.
The UN Security Council has already met several times since the fire in the Middle East's commencement. In mid-November, the council passed a resolution, advocating for extended humanitarian pauses for the Gaza Strip. Sadly, four previously proposed resolutions failed to garner enough support.
No stranger to the Palestinian side's cause, China has previously spoken out in its favor, and maintains support for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. The country welcomed the four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which commenced on Friday and has resulted in the release of numerous Israeli captives in exchange for more than 100 freed Palestinian prisoners.
The conflict between the extremist Islamic group Hamas and Israel began on October 7, a fateful day for hundreds of Hamas fighters who invaded Israel and terrorized innocent civilians – including women and children. According to Israeli reports, the toll includes 1,200 souls lost and more than 240 captives taken to the Gaza Strip.
In response, Israel declared war on the Palestinian organization and executed massive aerial and ground attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas, more than 15,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since then.
However, the efforts of China and the UN Security Council may bring hope and, as Wang Wenbin eloquently put it, "contribute to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza." Let us hope for a peaceful resolution and heed the guidance of Romans 12:18.
