China condemns Israeli attack in Qatar, calls for deescalation

A senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday that China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the Israeli attack in Qatar and calls for joint efforts to deescalate regional situation.

Chen Xu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, made the remarks at an emergency debate held at the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Israel's attack on Qatar flagrantly violates Qatar's territorial sovereignty and national security, contravenes international law and the UN Charter, and undermines efforts for peace, Chen said.

Noting that respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries is a basic norm of international relations, Chen said Israel turns a blind eye to it and frequently carries out military operations against neighboring countries.

Acknowledging Qatar is an important mediator in Gaza ceasefire negotiations and has made great efforts to promote a ceasefire and restore peace, which is highly recognized by the international community, the Chinese diplomat said Israel's attack is a deliberate sabotage of the ceasefire negotiations.

Stressing that the abuse of force is not a way out of the problem, Chen said China strongly calls on all parties concerned, especially Israel, to make more active efforts to quell the fighting and restart negotiations, earnestly fulfill their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and respect the right to subsistence of the people in neighboring countries.

China stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire, ending the fighting and deescalating the regional situation, Chen said.

(Cover: File photo of Chen Xu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland. /Xinhua)