Arab and Muslim ministers are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as they visit Beijing, their first stop among five countries. The delegation includes representatives from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine, and Organizations for Islamic Cooperation. The goal is to negotiate an end to hostilities and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the devastated Palestinian enclave.

The ministers are applying pressure on the West to reject Israel’s justification of its actions against the Palestinians as self-defense. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized the need to stop the fighting and killings immediately and to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza. The delegation aims to send a clear signal of support for their cause.

Israel’s ambassador to Beijing, Irit Ben-Abba, expressed hope that there would be no declaration of a ceasefire from this visit, stating that it is not the time. She also called for discussions about the hostages captured by Hamas. Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi affirmed Beijing’s support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and their national rights.

China has repeatedly called for de-escalation between Israel and Palestine and for the pursuit of a two-state solution for an independent Palestine. They aim to ease the humanitarian crisis and work towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. China’s special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, has been engaging officials from Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as well as the Arab League and the EU to discuss these issues further.