Arab and Muslim ministers they asked today immediately ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during their delegation’s visit to Beijing, on the first leg of a tour to lobby for an end to hostilities and to allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave.

The delegation, which is due to meet with officials from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, is also stepping up pressure on the West to reject Israel’s position that its actions against the Palestinians constitute self-defense.

The officials — including foreign ministers and top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, the Palestinian Authority and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation — met today with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

“We are here to send a clear message: that the fighting and killing must stop immediately, we must deliver humanitarian goods to Gaza immediately,” said Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud.

An emergency joint meeting of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Riyadh earlier this month called on the International Criminal Court to investigate “war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel” in the Palestinian territories.

During the bloody attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, about 1,200 people were killed, while the Palestinian movement also took about 240 hostages.

Israeli Ambassador to Beijing Irit Ben-Abba told foreign reporters today that she hopes “Let there be no announcement about a truce from this visit, now is not the time.”

She added that Israel hopes the delegation will speak about the hostages held by Hamas and “demand their immediate and unconditional release.” At the same time, he noted that the sides that will participate in today’s talks should discuss “Egypt’s role in facilitating humanitarian aid”.

“Friend and Sister”

Wang pointed out for his part that China is “good friend and sister of Arab and Muslim countries”, adding that “always fervently supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and interests.”

Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, China’s foreign ministry has not clearly condemned the attack by the Palestinian movement, while calling for de-escalation and for Israel and the Palestinians to pursue “the two-state solution”.

Today Wang added that Beijing will work “to end the conflicts in Gaza as soon as possible, alleviate the humanitarian crisis and promote an early, comprehensive, just and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian issue.”