Q: On May 14, the US Embassy in Israel was relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On that day, tens of thousands of Palestinians held protests and demonstrations in the Gaza Strip, close to the Israeli border. They clashed with the Israeli armed police, which ended in killing over 50 people and injuring more than 2,000 others. What is your comment?
A: China is deeply concerned about the heavy casualties caused by the violent conflict in the Gaza Strip and condemns the violence targeting civilians. We call on Palestine and Israel, especially the Israeli side, to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation of the situation.
The status and ownership of Jerusalem is a highly complex and sensitive issue which is at the core of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute and involves national and religious feelings. China always believes that the issue of the final status of Jerusalem should be resolved through dialogue in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and by resuming the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks at an early date.
We firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and stand behind efforts based on the two-state solution to establish an independent State of Palestine with full sovereignty along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital through Palestinian-Israeli talks. China stands ready to join hands with relevant parties of the international community and work for the final proper settlement of the Palestinian issue.