Two displaced Palestinian children suffering from malnutrition and cerebral palsy are seen inside a school-turned shelter in the northwest of Gaza City, July 25, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Responding to the recent humanitarian situation in Gaza, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday said China is deeply concerned about the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the people of Gaza. The ongoing conflict, now in its 21st month, has led to an "unprecedented deterioration" of the humanitarian situation there. The "two-state solution" is the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian issue, and China firmly supports the Palestinian people in establishing an independent state, said Guo.

As the recent humanitarian crisis in Gaza drew widespread concern, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have indicated they would formally recognize the state of Palestine in September during the United Nations General Assembly, media reports said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a cabinet meeting on Monday, during which the military presented a new plan for a "siege" of the Gaza Strip, which would again cut off all humanitarian aid, Times of Israel reported. Other Hebrew media reports, quoting unnamed sources, said ministers are weighing fully occupying Gaza, and/or annexing parts of the Strip, "if Hamas continues to reject efforts to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release deal."

Guo said on Wednesday that China is highly concerned about the current situation in Gaza. It opposes Israel's escalation of military operations there, and is deeply concerned about the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the people of Gaza. 

"The ongoing conflict, now in its 21st month, has led to an unprecedented deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza," Guo said, adding that according to recent World Health Organization report, Gaza has recorded 74 deaths due to malnutrition this year, with 63 cases reported this month alone, including 25 children. "This is the latest evidence of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza." 

China calls on all relevant parties, particularly Israel, to immediately cease military operations in Gaza, lift the blockade and siege, fully restore access for humanitarian supplies, and prevent an even larger-scale humanitarian crisis, the Chinese spokesperson urged.

Guo emphasized that the Palestinian issue is at the core of the Middle East issue, and the "two-state solution" is the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian issue. 

China firmly supports the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state and is willing to work with the international community to promote an early end to the conflict in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, implement the "two-state solution," and ultimately achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue, Guo said. 

Global Times