The heads of China and France support the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, according to a joint statement by China and France on the situation in the Middle East, the text of which was distributed on Tuesday by China Central Television.
⠀
According to the text of the statement, the heads of China and France call for the decisive implementation of the two-state plan.
⠀
“(Call) to ensure the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine as neighboring states, (to ensure) the joint creation of a viable, independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital,” the text says.
⠀
As part of his European tour, which takes place May 5-10, Chinese President Xi Jinping visits France, Serbia and Hungary. On Monday, the Chinese leader held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
⠀
Earlier, Xi Jinping, at a trilateral meeting with Macron and the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Paris, said that the way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the implementation of a two-state solution.
⠀
On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. After this, fighters from the Palestinian Hamas movement entered the border areas, opened fire on military and civilians, and took more than 200 hostages. According to authorities, about 1.2 thousand people died.
⠀
The Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip, which included attacks on civilian targets. Israel announced a complete blockade of the enclave: supplies of water, electricity, fuel, food and medicine were stopped. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 34 thousand people were killed and over 78 thousand were injured.
⠀
The Gaza Strip has effectively been divided into southern and northern parts, and Israel is preparing for a ground operation in Rafah, which is considered the last stronghold of Hamas.
