BEIJING, Oct 20 (Reuters) – China’s special envoy for Middle East issues, Zhai Jun, attributed the Israel-Gaza crisis to the absence of guaranteed Palestinian rights during his meeting with Russian counterpart, Mikhail Bogdanov, in Qatar. As the conflict’s go-between, Qatar facilitated this gathering.

Embarking on his regional tour, Zhai Jun arrived in Qatar yesterday to reiterate China’s solidarity with Russia in their joint efforts to de-escalate tensions in Gaza.

Zhai Jun expressed China and Russia’s shared position on the Palestinian issue, underscoring the primary cause of the conflict as the unfulfilled legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people.

During President Vladimir Putin’s rare meeting with President Xi Jinping on October 19th, the leaders discussed the crisis, reinforcing China’s stance on the matter.

Without mentioning Hamas, the Gaza-based militant group, Zhai Jun identified the fundamental reason for the ongoing conflict as the lack of guarantees for the Palestinian people’s rights.

Hamas gunmen launched an attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on October 7th, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,400 people. In response, Israel initiated air strikes, imposing a siege on the 2.3 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.

On October 14th, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned any acts that harm innocent civilians, without directly naming Hamas, and criticized Israel for exceeding the bounds of self-defense.

In an interview, U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns acknowledged differing views on the Israel-Hamas conflict between the United States and China. Although he did not see it as an opportunity to enhance Sino-U.S. relations, he emphasized the need for dialogue.

Root Causes and International Stance

The crisis in Gaza has divided China and Russia from the United States. President Joe Biden announced plans to secure additional funding, estimated to be in the billions, to aid Israel in its fight against Hamas.

Russia, with connections to Iran, the Hamas militant group, key Arab nations, and both Palestinians and Israelis, repeatedly voiced its belief that the United States and the West overlook the necessity of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

A United Nations Security Council resolution drafted by Brazil, which called for a humanitarian ceasefire, failed to pass due to a U.S. veto. Similarly, a Russian-drafted resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire also did not succeed.

The Chinese nationalist tabloid, Global Times, published an editorial stating that the biased attitude of the United States constitutes one of the root causes of the longstanding Palestine issue and exacerbates conflict escalation.

China’s Commitment to Calming the Conflict

Zhai Jun affirmed China’s readiness to maintain communication and coordination with Russia in order to pacify the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Qatar, a small Gulf state, plays a vital role in this mediation process.

In recent days, foreign diplomats, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have visited Qatar to seek mediation in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Qatar’s direct channels of communication with Hamas, whose political office has operated in Doha for over a decade, make it a crucial mediator.