A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for efforts to uphold the ceasefire and achieve lasting peace in Gaza, and to curb violence in the West Bank.

Amid escalating tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory, the international community must act to prevent further harm to the Palestinian people, salvage the political prospects of the two-state solution, and make every effort to achieve lasting peace, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

Recently, Israel has not only openly rejected the Gaza peace plan presented by the "Board of Peace," but gone even further by escalating its deadly attacks on Gaza, undermining the fragile situation there, he told the Security Council.

Facts have highlighted the dangerous attempt to deliberately prolong the hostilities as the biggest obstacle to achieving lasting peace in Gaza, according to Fu. "We urge the relevant parties, particularly Israel, to sincerely and fully implement the ceasefire agreement and take positive steps toward lasting peace."

Fu called on countries with significant influence over the parties concerned to uphold an impartial position and make concrete efforts to advance the peace process. The international community, especially the Security Council, should work to protect civilians in Gaza, ensure humanitarian assistance, and prevent an even more severe humanitarian disaster, he added.

Acts of violence and annexation must be stopped, and tensions in the West Bank eased, Fu noted.

In recent days, settlers in the West Bank have besieged Palestinian residents for days in an attempt to drive them out and seize their homes. China strongly condemns such acts, he said.

Any attempt at the de facto annexation of the West Bank is unacceptable. China urges Israel to fulfill its obligations as the occupying power and curb settler violence, rather than tacitly condoning or abetting it, Fu said.

The fundamental way to resolve the Palestine-Israel issue is to stay committed to a political settlement, remain firmly anchored in the right direction of the two-state solution, promote the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, achieve the early establishment of an independent state of Palestine, and realize harmonious coexistence between the Arab and Jewish peoples, said Fu.

Governance of the West Bank and post-war reconstruction in Gaza should be advanced in accordance with the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine, he said.

The international community should support the just cause of the Palestinian people in pursuing their legitimate national rights, reject any unilateral action that undermines the foundations of the two-state solution, and work for the early realization of a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question, he said.

The legitimate right of Palestinian leaders to attend the General Debate of the UN General Assembly should be safeguarded, he added.

China stands ready to work with the international community to promote the cessation of hostilities, alleviate the humanitarian disaster, and implement the two-state solution, and to make greater contributions to bringing an early end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, he said.