Amid Conflict In Gaza, China Backs Calls For Middle East Free Of Nuclear Arms

Backing calls for a nuclear arms-free Middle East, China at the UN voiced opposition against the presence of such weapons in the region as a major destabilizing factor.

"Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction have been a major factor causing a trust deficit in the Middle East, undermining regional peace and stability," China's deputy chief at the UN, Ambassador Geng Shuang said Monday, addressing a UN conference in New York, according to a statement by the country's official mission.

The top issue at the conference was the establishment of a zone in the Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, a cause, Geng said China supports.

At the event, Beijing also launched a broadside at Israeli officials who recently proposed use of nuclear arms in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza, which, China said, "has caused an uproar."

The statement came after the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League on Saturday called for creation of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East and effective action against war crimes perpetrated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Palestinian besieged enclave of Gaza.

Establishing a nuclear-free Middle East, Geng said, "will help curb the proliferation of WMDs (weapons of mass destruction), safeguard the authority and effectiveness of international non-proliferation regime, and reduce the risk of an arms race and conflict, thereby providing an important mechanism for the maintenance of long-term regional peace and security."

Pointing out "flagrant violations" of basic norms governing international relations as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has intensified in recent weeks, Geng said: "It pains to see massive civilian casualties on both sides and it is heart-wrenching to witness the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip."

"Violence cannot bring true security. The use of force will not create lasting peace," he stressed.

Urging Middle Eastern nations to accede to international conventions, including non-proliferation treaties, Geng said China was "shocked" by statements that came from Israeli officials on the use of nukes on the besieged Palestinian enclave, pummeled by over a month of Israeli attacks.

Last week, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu was widely criticized after saying that dropping a nuclear bomb on the Gaza Strip is "an option."

Netanyahu criticized the remarks and suspended the minister from Cabinet meetings, while opposition leader Yair Lapid called for Eliyahu's dismissal, saying he "harmed our (country's) international standing."

Such statements are "universally condemned," according to China's Geng, who added: "It is extremely irresponsible and disturbing. Such statements run counter to the international consensus that a nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought."

"We urge Israeli officials to retract these statements, and urge Israel to accede to the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as a non-nuclear weapon state as soon as possible and to place all its nuclear facilities" under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, he said, addressing Tel Aviv.​​​​​​​

For more than a month, the Israeli army has been attacking all parts of the Gaza Strip, while its ground operation has focused on isolating its northern part and establishing a heavy military presence.

Israel has been carrying out relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip -- including on hospitals, residences and houses of worship -- since the Palestinian resistance group Hamas launched a cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

Since then, the number of deaths from the ongoing Israeli attacks has surpassed 11,100, including more than 8,000 children and women, the government media office in Gaza said on Sunday.

The Israeli death toll is nearly 1,200, according to official figures. -