A senior Chinese diplomat called on the international community on Friday to address the root causes of the Palestinian issue, correct historical injustice and uphold equity and justice, at a United Nations commemoration of the 78th anniversary of Nakba Day.
The Nakba Day is observed annually on May 15 by Palestinians to remember the massive exodus of Palestinians that occurred in 1948 following the establishment of the state of Israel.
Speaking at the commemoration, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sun Lei said that Palestinians continue to suffer from historical injustice 78 years after the 1948 war that displaced hundreds of thousands of the Palestinian people.
Turmoil and war are not the destiny of the Palestinian people, and the international community should shoulder its responsibility and take effective actions to uphold equity and justice, he said.
"We urge all parties, especially Israel, to fully observe ceasefire agreements and realize a lasting truce in Gaza. Israel should fulfill its obligations under the international humanitarian law and lift restrictions on humanitarian supplies," said Sun.
The Chinese diplomat also said that China urges de-escalation in the West Bank and full implementation of the two-state solution.
Israel should heed the strong call of the international community, immediately stop settlement activities, end illegal occupation, curb violence in the West Bank, and hold perpetrators accountable, Sun said.
Reiterating that the two-state solution is the only viable way out to resolve the Palestinian question, Sun said that the international community must build consensus and take irreversible steps to implement it, and stop unilateral actions that undermine its foundation.
China urges int'l community to correct historical injustice
Displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are manually removing rubble using basic tools, in the absence of heavy machinery and international reconstruction assistance.
Seven months into a fragile ceasefire, large-scale reconstruction remains largely stalled in Gaza, with Israeli restrictions on construction materials and unresolved political disputes deemed as key obstacles.
Many families in the enclave say they can no longer wait for rebuilding plans to begin.
Mohammad Adel, who lost his seven-story home in Khan Younis during the war, has been living with his family under difficult displacement conditions in the crowded tents of Al Mawasi for more than two years.
Unable to wait any longer, Adel decided to begin clearing the rubble of his home by hand.
"We see that there will be no reconstruction for Gaza and the closure is very strict on us. Waiting for reconstruction will take a very long time, so we started working and removing the rubble with our own hands. As you can see, this will cost us money, but we are trying to prepare the place so we can live in it," he said.
For some unemployed workers, clearing debris has become a temporary source of income amid the economic collapse caused by the war.
"Today, financial means have become nonexistent. Before the war, I had a chicken farm, but my work stopped because of the war. So I searched for another job that could provide me with an income, and I have no choice except this extremely exhausting work," said Abdullah Al Bayouk, a worker.
Palestinian officials warn that the continued delay in reconstruction is forcing thousands of displaced families to remain inside tents or unsafe damaged buildings, under worsening humanitarian conditions.
"Over 400,000 residential buildings have been either totally destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, along with more than 60 million tons of rubble. And 3,000 more housing units are at risk of collapse, yet people are still living inside them," said Mohannad Abboud, director of reconstruction of the Palestinian Ministry of Public Works.
A recent UN report showed that rebuilding Gaza and clearing the debris will require more than 71 billion U.S. dollars over the next decade. The rubble is estimated to cover around 78 percent of buildings across the strip.
Gaza residents clear rubble by hand as large-scale reconstruction stalls
