China calls for urgent UNSC discussion after Israeli raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque

ISTANBUL (AA) – China has called on the UN Security Council to hold an “urgent” discussion about Israel’s latest attacks on Palestinian worshippers and subsequent developments.

This demand was made by Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy to the Middle East, when he met with ambassadors from Arab states in Beijing on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

The meeting was sought by the Arab countries’ ambassadors.

Mao said Zhai “clarified China’s stance on intensifying conflicts involving Israel, Palestine, Lebanon,” according to the Chinese daily Global Times.

“An urgent mission currently is needed to enhance situation management. China urges relevant parties, especially Israel, to remain calm and restrained and to avoid any action that would worsen the situation,” he told the ambassadors.

“China actively appeals to the Arab states’ demand and requests the UN Security Council to carry out urgent discussion over the situation and work to cool the situation down,” he said.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Israeli police detained hundreds of Palestinians from the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, with witnesses saying Israeli cops used excessive force, including tear gas and stun grenades.

Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, the UK and the EU have condemned the atrocities and demanded a “de-escalation” of the situation.

Israeli forces and Jewish settlers frequently carry out raids on the mosque. Radical Zionist Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has spearheaded and participated in several storming attacks on Al Aqsa.

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents Islam’s third-holiest site. It hosts special prayer services in the Holy Month of Ramadan, for which worshippers were gathered when the attack took place.

On the other hand, Jews call the area ‘Temple Mount’, and insist that the mosque has been built over the ancient temple.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community.

On Thursday, China expressed “deep concern” about the escalation of the Palestinian-Israel conflict and urged Tel Aviv to avoid further escalation.

“The international community needs to act with greater urgency and take concrete steps to advance the two-state solution, work for a comprehensive and just resolution of the Palestine issue at an early date, and realize peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel,” Ning said.