China will offer 100 million U.S. dollars in aid to Palestine to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which is expected to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.
Lin made the statement while responding to a media query concerning the aid package announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
"China remains deeply concerned about the prolonged Gaza conflict, which has dragged on for more than two years and created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Since the outbreak of conflicts, China has extended multiple batches of humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip through the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan and other channels, which have been widely welcomed and appreciated by the Palestinian government and people. The new assistance package worth 100 million U.S. dollars, announced by President Xi Jinping, will be used to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction. We believe it will help improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people," said Lin.
"President Xi stressed that the Palestinian question is a test of the effectiveness of the global governance system. He called on the international community to face up to the root causes of the Palestinian issue, shoulder its responsibilities, take concrete actions, correct historical injustice and uphold fairness and justice. China has always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, stands ready to work with the international community to push for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, improve humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, and make unremitting efforts to realize at an early date a political settlement of the Palestinian question on the basis of the two-state solution," the spokesman continued.
China to offer 100 million USD in aid for Palestine: spokesman
Amid the rubble and relentless hardship of the Gaza Strip, a young displaced musician refuses to let war silence his strings, playing every day to bring fleeting moments of joy to those around him.
Samih Al-Madhoon, a resilient young performer who is still only 18-years-old, has been left displaced at the Al-Shati Camp in Gaza, but his love for music burns strongly and gives him a sense of hope for the future, despite whatever challenges lie ahead.
The Israel-Hamas conflict saw him lose his home and most of the things he held dear in life, including having to leave behind his beloved musical instrument.
"I tried to stay consistent with my playing and my talent, and to stay continuing in this path, but unfortunately during this period of displacement I lost my oud. I lost my instrument, and I lost many things that belong to me in music. And I lost [the ability to play] musical notes," he said. However, when he finally returned to playing, holding his cherished oud in his hands once more, he said he cried at once again being able to express himself through music.
Al-Madhoon has continued his musical career with a sense of determination, persistence, and talent that belies the chaos he has witnessed all around him.
He said he wants to use his music to comfort his peers who are currently living in harsh conditions, and he is seen regularly performing to others as he looks to ease people's pain all around him.
"Through music, I deliver my voice and the voice of the people of Gaza Strip, and the people of Palestine in general, that we are people who love life and peace. During this period, during the war, I play to comfort them, to make them a little happier, and to change their mood," he said.
The young performer still hopes that he will be able to live a peaceful life and perhaps one day get the chance to pursue his musical dreams on bigger stages, instead of amid the ruins and rubble of the destroyed streets of Gaza.
"My wish is to live in safety and peace, build new houses for us, rebuild the home, rebuild my memories with music, return to learning music, and to be on big stages. And I hope that I can leave to complete my studies outside the Gaza Strip and become a maestro in music," he said.
Gaza musician bravely keeps on playing to deliver sounds of joy amid devastation
