Cease-fire urgently needed to restore peace

If the conflict between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip continues, casualties will continue to mount on both sides without the real disputes being resolved. This will serve no parties' interest.

Along with all peace-loving countries, China is greatly concerned about the intensifying conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, and deeply saddened by the rising civilian casualties. China opposes and condemns all forms of violence that claims innocent lives.

After decades of on-and-off conflicts, both the Israelis and the Palestinians should know that conflicts do not solve problems. Instead, they serve to keep the flame of hatred and revenge burning in future generations, worsening the situation beyond repair.

It is always easy to start a conflict or escalate tensions with a tit-for-tat response. But it is very difficult to resolve a conflict or defuse tensions, and even more difficult to heal the wounds. The untold suffering of civilians in Israel and the Palestinian territories should remind decision-makers on both sides of a bitter fact. That is the heavy cost any rushed and hotheaded decision exacts not only on others but also on those who make those decisions, especially if they have been made to fulfill their own interest.

The best way to protect your people is not to eliminate the other side, but to seek a rapprochement with them. So a cease-fire should be declared immediately by the warring parties, and the international community should persuade them to do so because war has never solved any problem.

The two sides should refrain from taking actions that could protract the mayhem and undermine regional stability. For that, the international community has to play the role of peace-broker and strive to make the warring sides see the tragedy of war. The ultimate goal should be to restore lasting peace, rather than trying to pour oil on the fire as the United States has been doing to exploit the situation to fulfill its narrow ends.

It is no secret that the root cause of the conflict is that the Palestine question is yet to be settled even after seven decades.

The way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in resuming the peace talks, implementing the two-state solution, and taking all the necessary measures to resolve once and for all the Palestinian issue, but by taking into consideration the legitimate interests of all parties.

And it's up to the international community to make efforts to advance the two-state solution with the greatest sense of urgency.