The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has led to a humanitarian crisis, which makes ceasefire an urgent call, said senior diplomats.

They made the remark at a meeting held on Dec 15 to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People which falls on Nov 29. Senior diplomats and officials, scholars and students from China and other nations attended the event held in Beijing by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Lyu Jian, former Chinese ambassador to Thailand, as representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that China will make every effort to facilitate a ceasefire, ensure the safety of civilians and bring the Palestinian question back on the right track toward the two-state solution.

Palestinian Ambassador to China Fariz Mehdawi spoke highly of China's stance on the issue and called for the international community to take urgent action to push for a ceasefire.

Since 1980, the association has held the "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People" commemoration meeting for 44 consecutive years.

"The continuous holding of such an event shows that the Chinese government's and the Chinese people's support of the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights is consistent," said Xue Qingguo, a professor of Arab studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

"The current conflict reminds the world that the Palestinian question is still at the heart of the Middle East issue. I hope the world can take this chance to work out a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question," he added.