The United Nations Security Council on Saturday called for "the full adherence to the ceasefire" in its first press statement on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since violence first erupted between the two sides on May 10.

The statement welcomed the ceasefire announcement beginning May 21. It recognized the "important role Egypt, other regional countries, the UN, the Middle East Quartet and other international partners played in this regard."

The Security Council mourned the loss of the civilian lives, and "stressed the immediate need for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly in Gaza," the statement said. It backed the UN Secretary-General's call for the international community to work with the UN to develop "an integrated, robust package of support for a swift, sustainable reconstruction and recovery."

In the statement, Security Council members also highlighted "the importance of achieving a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders."

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, said on Twitter that he's glad to see the Security Council speaks in one voice to support the ceasefire.

Saturday's statement was jointly initiated by China, Norway, Tunisia and France, according to China's Permanent Mission to the UN, which holds the presidency of the Security Council for May. It was approved by all 15 members of the council.

China sincerely appreciates Norway, Tunisia and France for the joint efforts, Zhang said. The ambassador emphasized that "more work needs to be done to stabilize the situation, meet humanitarian needs and seek a long-term solution".

The intense exchange of rocket-fire and air strikes between Palestine and Israel came to an end late Thursday night after the Israeli security cabinet approved an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement.

The halting of violence ended 11 days of bloodshed that left at least 243 Palestinians dead, including 66 children. Israel lost 12 people, including two children, Xinhua reported. The latest conflict marks the most intensive fighting between the two sides since the devastating 2014 war in Gaza.

The violence was instigated by clashes between the Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on May 10 after attempts by Jewish settlers to evict Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem.

Since May 10, the Security Council held four emergency meetings to discuss the Palestine-Israel conflict, including a public high-level debate chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on May 16.

The council has proposed four press statements over the past two weeks calling for a ceasefire, but they have all been blocked by the US, Israel's closest ally.

During a General Assembly meeting on Thursday, Zhang reiterated China's commitment to protect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. China will continue to seek a just solution to the Palestine question at the Security Council based on the two-state solution, he said.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Friday that China plans to provide $1 million in cash to Palestine and donate 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.