Israel criticizes China’s abuse of human rights & basic freedoms in joint UN statement with US, UK and others

Israel joined the United States and several other countries in a joint UN statement criticizing China for its human rights violations, marking a rare confrontation in Israel’s usually cautious approach towards Beijing.

The UN declared the undersigned countries had “deep concerns about serious violations” of human rights and “fundamental freedoms” in China.

The statement was sponsored by the U.S. and issued with support from the United Kingdom, Japan, Albania, Australia, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Palau, Paraguay, San Marino, Ukraine, and Israel.

Yesterday's 15 nation joint UNGA 3C statement made clear that China’s persistent use of arbitrary detention, forced labor, unlawful and arbitrary uses of mass surveillance, and restrictions on religious and cultural expression is cause for deep concern. We call on China to… pic.twitter.com/oU3uR0c5Tu

— Bureau of International Organization Affairs (@State_IO) November 22, 2025

According to Ynet News, this was the first time since 2021 that Israel signed on to a multilateral statement against China at the United Nations.

Israel has traditionally avoided antagonizing China at the UN, despite its relatively hostile stance toward Israel, often siding with the Palestinians and the Arab countries in condemnations of Israeli policies.

Throughout the Gaza War, China strongly criticized Israel for its conduct. In September, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said China, alongside Qatar, was imposing a “blockade” on Israel “in terms of legitimacy – through new media and social networks.”

China at the UN: "Israel must immediately lift the blockade, open all border crossings, remove restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, cease attacks on the UN and other humanitarian agencies, and offer safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian efforts." pic.twitter.com/Gfz8Fughe9

— COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) September 17, 2024

The UN statement said that “credible reports” point to “the persistent use of arbitrary detention, forced labor, unlawful or arbitrary uses of mass surveillance, and restrictions on religious and cultural expression in China.”

“Ethnic and religious minority groups – particularly Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, Christians, Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, and others – have faced targeted repression, including through separation of children from families in boarding schools, torture, and the destruction of cultural heritage.”

The statement also expressed concern about increasing censorship and limits on public discourse, including the “transnational repression of journalists, human rights defenders, and lawyers” that “exemplify a climate of fear designed to silence criticism.”

It also noted the “dismantling of long-standing civil liberties and the rule of law in Hong Kong,” but didn’t mention the situation surrounding Taiwan.

Relations between Israel and China have slowly been deteriorating, despite significant economic ties.

One of the signature joint projects was the 2021 inauguration of a new port terminal in Haifa Bay, in cooperation with the Chinese majority-state-owned company Shanghai International Port (SIPG). This move angered Washington, which reportedly warned that U.S. military vessels might stop docking at Haifa port. 

Two weeks ago, Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen hinted that there are security concerns over China’s expanding role in Israeli infrastructure projects.

In October, ten Members of the Knesset (MKs) attended a celebration of Taiwan’s National Day, further exacerbating tensions with China.

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 being among the main importers.

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.

China enjoys particularly 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.