China urges Israel to halt West Bank settlements

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told Israeli President Isaac Herzog to halt and reverse the 'forced establishment' of settlements in the West Bank, according to a statement from Beijing's foreign ministry ^[1]. The remarks were made during a meeting on the margins of a conference in Azerbaijan on Thursday.

Wang described the Palestinian issue as 'the greatest historical injustice of this century' and reiterated China’s longstanding support for a two-state solution ^[1]. He stressed that the immediate priority must be fully opening access to Gaza to prevent a spreading humanitarian catastrophe ^[2].

Beijing has been positioning itself as a mediator in Middle East conflicts, having previously brokered a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023 ^[1]. It also played a role in early 2024 efforts to form a temporary Palestinian unity government, though that plan was never implemented.

Herzog said in a post on X he was 'pleased' to meet Wang and that their discussion focused on bilateral relations and the Middle East situation ^[1]. He emphasised Israel’s desire for regional peace, citing Iran and its proxies as the primary security threat.

China maintains close ties with Iran, the largest buyer of Iranian oil despite US sanctions ^[1]. Meanwhile, the UK has taken a hardline stance, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband declaring the entire West Bank occupation unlawful and imposing sanctions on goods from illegal settlements ^[2]. Israel responded by closing the British consulate in Jerusalem and expelling UK officials, calling the UK’s position 'morally distorted'.

Despite a US-brokered ceasefire that began in October 2025, violence in Gaza continues, with over 1,400 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes within the first year ^[1]. Both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement, stalling progress on the next phase of the deal. The story was first reported by BBC News and The Independent.