ISTANBUL

Chinese UN Ambassador Fu Cong urged Israel on Wednesday to "immediately cease all military operations in Gaza," during a Security Council session on Palestine in New York.

Fu demanded Tel Aviv "fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, fully restore humanitarian access, and support the UN and other humanitarian organizations in their aid effort."

"The country with significant influence over the party concerned should adopt an impartial and responsible approach and truly play a positive and constructive role," said Fu, while insisting that Syria's and Lebanon's "sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity" to be "fully respected," in light of Israel's attacks on those countries.

South Korean Chargé d’affaires Sangjin Kim demanded that Israel "end all restrictions on humanitarian assistance and allow the UN to deliver life-saving aid to those in need throughout Gaza."

Bangladeshi Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury expressed support for establishing an "independent, viable and sovereign state of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders." He said Dhaka has asked the Security Council "to take immediate actions to recommend the mission of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations."

All three countries expressed support for aid efforts in Gaza.

Israel has killed more than 59,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, collapsed the health system and led to severe food shortages.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.​​​​​​​