What changed
China has told Israel to stop and reverse its “forced establishment” of settlements in the West Bank. Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered the message directly to Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a meeting in Azerbaijan on Oct. 16, while also calling for full access to Gaza and backing a two-state solution.
Why it matters
This puts China’s position in unusually direct terms. Beijing is not merely repeating support for Palestinians; it is pressing Israel to undo settlement activity and treating the Palestinian issue as a major historical injustice.
Wang also placed Gaza at the front of China’s immediate priorities, warning that restricted access could allow a humanitarian “catastrophe” to spread. China says peace and reconciliation are the cornerstone of its Middle East policy and wants the parties back in dialogue, with international support for a political settlement.
The immediate outlook is diplomatic rather than operational. Whether Israel accepts or acts on the demands will determine whether the exchange becomes more than a sharply worded statement.
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