China Will Use UNSC Presidency To Respond To The Attack On Al-Shifa Hospital

UN Flag/PHOTO via X United Nations @UN

JAKARTA - Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said China would use its position as rotating president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to respond to Israel's attack on the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is very disturbing and heartbreaking. As the rotating president of the UN Security Council this month, China will respond to calls from the international community and increase coordination with relevant parties, especially Arab countries," said Mao Ning when delivering a routine statement to the media in Beijing, China as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 15.

The Israeli military stormed Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday morning after previously carrying out a major attack around the hospital. The director general of the Gaza hospital, Dr Muhammad Zaqout, said that Israeli troops stormed the operations building and emergency room at the hospital and carried out a search in the hospital basement.

"We condemn all actions that harm civilians and violate international law. China has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and prevented further humanitarian disasters," said Mao Ning.

Mao Ning said that China had been trying to mediate all this time.

"We will also continue to work together with various parties to play an active and constructive role in ending hostilities, easing tensions, providing a humanitarian situation, and ultimately realizing Palestinian-Israeli peace through a two-state solution," added Mao Ning.

Mao Ning also said that as the rotating president of the UNSC, China wants to uphold justice, build consensus, and encourage more responsible and meaningful action by the UNSC so that it can protect civilians and restore the peace process.

"You may have noticed that the Chinese Government's Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs Zhai Jun has visited relevant countries and been involved in peace mediation efforts recently. We will continue to play an active and constructive role to defuse the situation," said Mao Ning.

Israeli troops stormed Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, because they suspected Hamas had an underground command center under the hospital, an accusation strongly denied by Palestinian groups and health officials.

Dr Zaqout emphasized that the Israeli army had found no evidence of members of the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, hiding in or around the hospital. This contradicts Israel's accusations before storming the hospital complex.

WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said the hospital not only accommodated 700 patients but also 400 health staff and around 3,000 refugees. The hospital reported 20 patients died in the last 48 hours.

Israel began carrying out attacks on Gaza after a sudden cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7 2023 in which 1,200 people were killed and 200 others were taken to Gaza as hostages. Israel later on Friday revised the death toll to 1,400.