Beijing says 'Palestinians governing Palestine' principle must be upheld in post-conflict governance of Gaza
China on Wednesday restated its opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, saying the war-torn enclave belongs to its people.
"Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people. It is an inalienable part of the territory of Palestine," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.
He was responding to a question about US President Donald Trump's plans to take over Gaza, and relocate 2 million Palestinians to adjoining Arab states.
China, Guo added, "firmly" supports the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, believes that “the Palestinians governing Palestine” is an important principle that must be upheld in the post-conflict governance of Gaza, and opposes the forced displacement of its people.
"Under the current circumstances, the international community, major countries in particular, needs to play a constructive role in implementing the ceasefire deal, and promoting the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and reconstruction there," he went on to say.
A ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, halting Israel's genocidal war that has killed 48,222 people, mostly women and children since October 2023.
The war has also caused widespread destruction and left the Palestinian enclave in ruins.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
