GENEVA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat on Friday said that China is gravely concerned over the numerous casualties in the Gaza Strip, and called on both sides, especially Israel, to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of tension.
Yu Jianhua, head of the Chinese Mission to the UN at Geneva, told a UN Human Rights Council Special Session that China opposes indiscriminate use of force, and urges relevant parties to immediately stop violence against civilians.
Speaking at the the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the deteriorating human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Yu said that China supports an early resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, and a solution to the final status of Jerusalem through dialogue.
"As one of the core issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the status and sovereign position of Jerusalem touches upon national and religious sentiments, and is highly complex and sensitive," he noted.
The senior Chinese diplomat told the Special Session that China has always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and supported the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state, through Palestinian-Israeli talks, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
"China is willing to maintain communication with relevant parties of the international community on the issue of Palestine and work jointly to bring about a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution at an early date," Yu said.
Over 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been killed and some 12,000 wounded by the Israeli forces since the new round of anti-occupation protests in Gaza began on March 30, among which at least 60 Palestinians were killed in just one day of May 14 when the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem officially opened despite international criticism.