China rebukes PM Netanyahu over ‘blockade’ remarks, urges Israel to halt Gaza offensive
China on Thursday condemned remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told U.S. lawmakers earlier in the week that Israel was facing a “blockade” imposed by Qatar and China.
“Qatar and China are two countries imposing a blockade on us in terms of legitimacy – through new media and social networks,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu’s remarks followed a press conference, during which he had warned against an international economic blockade of Israel.
The Chinese embassy in Israel denied Netanyahu’s claims, saying that they were groundless and undermining bilateral relations between Israel and China.
“China is shocked by the remarks of the Israeli leader. The claim is groundless, undermines China-Israel relations, and is something that China is deeply concerned about and firmly opposed to,” the embassy spokesperson stated.
“By blaming the criticism on certain social media platforms and then pointing fingers at China, the Israeli side is like a patient desperately turning to any doctor, targeting the wrong source and, worse yet, being given the wrong prescription.”
The spokesperson also said that an independent Palestinian state is crucial to resolving problems in the Middle East, urging Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza.
“The question of Palestine is at the heart of the problems in the Middle East. The security of countries in the region, including Israel and Palestine, is interdependent. The pursuit of security at the expense of others will not work; only common security can bring lasting peace and eliminate the breeding ground of violence and hatred. Israel’s legitimate security concerns should be respected, and Palestine’s right to existence, statehood and development should be upheld,” the Chinese embassy said.
“Truth, justice and public opinion must not be defied. We urge Israel to heed the strong call of the international community, stop the military operations in Gaza, realize a full and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible, and prevent a greater humanitarian crisis. China sincerely hopes for the peaceful coexistence of all countries in the region, and for peace, stability and common prosperity in the region. China stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in easing the situation.”
In late 2023, the Israel Defense Forces revealed that the Hamas terrorist group was using Chinese weapons in its fight against Israel, although it is unclear whether those weapons were sold directly to Hamas by China or came via an intermediary.
According to the Institute for National Security Studies, China supplies weapons to numerous countries in the Middle East, with Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia among the main importers.
China enjoys close relations with Iran, whose terror proxies include Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen
In March 2021, China and Iran signed a 25-year comprehensive economic and security partnership, including intelligence sharing, which was implemented in January 2022.
Earlier this year, ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor-in-Chief Joel Rosenberg warned that China poses a threat not only to Israel but to the West as a whole. “They are working closely with radical Islamic forces to undermine, disrupt, and ultimately overturn the Western security doctrine,” Rosenberg said.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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