Chinese foreign minister talks to Israeli and Palestinian counterpart  

Kathmandu, 24 Oct: Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister, Wang Yi, has said foreign ministers of both Israel and Palestine that they are obliged to protect civilians even when they are engaged in conflicts.

This is Wang Yi’s first call to the ministers following Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

In his call, Wang Yi told his Israeli counterpart that every country had the right to self-defence but stressed that countries acting in self-defence are obliged to protect civilians, according to the South China Morning Post.

Similarly, in his call to Palestinian counterpart on the same day, Wang stressed that Beijing condemns all actions that harm civilians, the paper added.

Wang explained to both the counterparts about Beijing’s efforts to present itself as a peacemaker in the intensifying conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas, according to the SCMP.