At the invitation of the Egyptian government, Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, attended a meeting on the Palestinian question held in Cairo. That marks the latest effort of China to join hands with all peace-loving nations to ease the tensions between Palestine and Israel, promote an end to the fighting, avoid a humanitarian disaster and resume talks for peace.

As Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Saudi Arabian counterpart last week, Israel's actions have gone beyond the scope of "self-defense", and Israel should heed the call of the international community and the chief of the United Nations, and stop punishing the people in Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages it is holding, and Israel to allow rapid and unhindered access to Gaza for humanitarian supplies and aid personnel, saying the two demands should not be used as bargaining chips by either side.

It is imperative that no party takes any action that will lead to an escalation of the situation, and Israel and Palestine should get back to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

It is regrettable that the United States sent two aircraft carrier strike groups to the region soon after the conflict broke out, not to maintain peace or open channels for humanitarian aid, but to watch the back of its ally so it can carry out its "self-defense" operations. In contrast to the US' one-sided backing of Israeli actions, China is engaging in intensive communication with all parties to promote a cease-fire and an end to the fighting.

The historical injustice against Palestine has lasted for more than half a century and it cannot go on. All countries that love peace and uphold justice should speak up and clearly call for early implementation of the two-state solution. China is ready to work with other Arab states to continue supporting the Palestinians' just cause of restoring their national rights, and bring the Palestinian question back to the right track of the two-state solution so that it can be resolved comprehensively, justly and permanently.

Israel should realize that the Palestinian question cannot be resolved by conflict and stop its bombardment of Gaza. The farther it chooses to go in pushing its "self-defense" in this way, the more it will pay for it in the future. Its attempt to resolve the Palestinian question now in a once-and-for-all manner in its favor is not in its long-term interests.

The animosity between Israel and Palestine will not be resolved by abuse of military means but through faithful implementation of the two-state solution that both sides have already agreed on. The antipathy of the two sides has been allowed to foment too much violence thanks to the prejudicial actions of Washington. Now is the time for the world to rally to set the two sides on the path to peaceful coexistence.