China Sets Terms for Gaza: «Palestinians Must Govern Palestine» and Two-State Solution at the Core

The Government of the People’s Republic of China reaffirmed its stance on Gaza on Monday, stating that the enclave belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inalienable part of their territory, and that any postwar administration must uphold the principle that «Palestinians govern Palestine».

The announcement came on the eve of a peace agreement set to be signed in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh in the coming hours, aimed at ending two years of war in Gaza. The Israeli military campaign has left more than 67,000 people dead—most of them women and children—and over 170,000 wounded.

«Gaza belongs to the Palestinians and is an integral part of Palestinian territory. China firmly supports their legitimate rights as a people. Palestinians must govern Palestine—a principle that should be respected in the enclave when the war ends,» Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference.

The official outlined Beijing’s policy pillars in response to the humanitarian and political crisis that has devastated Gaza over the 24 months since Israel’s military offensive began in October 2023.

«The top priority is to achieve a comprehensive and durable cease-fire in Gaza as soon as possible, ensure effective humanitarian relief, and restore regional stability,» the diplomat said, underscoring the urgency of stopping the bloodshed.

Beyond the cease-fire, President Xi Jinping’s government has set a fundamental condition for any future arrangement concerning Gaza: it must respect the will of the Palestinian people and be consistent with a two-state solution, Lin Jian said.

This stance is not new for China, which has consistently maintained it in international forums, asserting that Palestine should be fully recognized as a state at the United Nations and that a two-state solution would enable peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Even so, the renewed statement comes at a pivotal moment in talks, seeking to prevent an imposed outcome that ignores Palestinian aspirations.

«We must firmly uphold the two-state solution, build broader international consensus, and reject any unilateral actions that erode its foundations,» the spokesman emphasized, in remarks reported by the EFE news agency, adding that «peace cannot be achieved by force» and that violence «cannot buy security».

China backs efforts for lasting peace

Regarding the summit in Egypt, where an agreement is expected to end two years of war and establish a political framework for Gaza’s reconstruction and Palestinian governance, the spokesperson said Beijing «welcomes and supports all efforts that help restore peace and ease the humanitarian crisis» in the territory.

However, he made clear the country «will continue to play its role as a responsible major power,» working with the international community to advance a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

«A swift end to the conflict and the establishment of lasting peace are aspirations shared by the peoples of Palestine, Israel and the Middle East, and also a top priority for the international community,» he said.