The UN Security Council meets on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at the UN headquarters in New York on March 25, 2024. After more than five months of war, the UN Security Council for the first time passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The US, Israel's ally which vetoed previous drafts, abstained. Photo: AFP

"Security Council resolutions are binding!" Chinese UN envoy Zhang Jun called for all parties concerned as well as countries with significant influence to take due actions, after a UN Security Council resolution was finally passed on Monday with the abstention of the US. 

It's because of China and other countries upholding principles and justice, that the US has been forced to realize that it cannot continue to obstruct the Security Council's efforts to take the decisive step in the right direction, he said. 

Monday's resolution was the Security Council's first official call for cease-fire nearly six months into the conflict. Israel's ally, the US, abstained from the vote, while the remaining 14 council members all voted in favor of the resolution. There was a round of applause in the council chamber after the vote on Monday, Al Jazeera reported.

Ambassador Zhang said on Monday while explaining the vote that China calls on the parties concerned to fulfill their obligations under the UN Charter and to take due action as required by the resolution. 

China also expects the state which holds significant influence to play a positive role on the party concerned, including by using all necessary and effective means at their disposal to support the implementation of the resolution, Zhang noted.

"A cease-fire during the month of Ramadan is only the first step that must serve as a basis leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire and the early return of the people of Gaza who are forced to flee their homes," the Chinese envoy said.

At the same time, Zhang added, the blockade of Gaza and man-made barriers to the access of humanitarian supplies must be lifted immediately to ensure that humanitarian supplies can enter Gaza in sufficient quantities in a safe and timely manner. Israel must fully cooperate to open Rafah and other land crossings. 

Explaining on China's decision to veto the previous cease-fire proposal last Friday, Zhang said the differences are clear. The current draft is unequivocal and correct in its direction, while the previous one proposed by the US has been evasive and ambiguous. 

The current draft demands an unconditional cease-fire, while the previous one has set preconditions. The current draft reflects the general expectations of the international community and enjoys the collective support of the Arab states, while the previous one has been jointly rejected by the Arab states, Zhang said. 

"The differences between the two drafts boil down to nothing but whether there should be an immediate and unconditional cease-fire and whether the collective punishment of the people in Gaza should be allowed to continue," Zhang noted.

Therefore, China, like most members of the international community, has been very clear from the outset. "Whether we voted against it last Friday, or in favor of it today, our vote has been based on our consistent position and proposition," the ambassador stressed. 

After repeated vetoes of Council actions, the US finally decided to stop obstructing the Council's demand for an immediate cease-fire. However, the US still tried to find all kinds of excuses to make accusations against China. 

"The eyes of the international community are discerning. The accusations by the US are untenable. On the contrary, it's because of China and other countries concerned upholding principles and justice, that we forced the US to realize that it cannot, and is unable to continue to obstruct the efforts of the Council to take the decisive step in the right direction," Zhang argued.

"In the end, justice prevails," the Chinese delegate said. 

Nearly six months after the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, over 32,000 innocent civilians have lost their lives. 

While the resolution comes already too late for those lives already lost, it can still bring long-awaited hope for the millions of people in Gaza who remain mired in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. 

Global Times