China's Unexpected Role in Israel-Gaza Conflict: Unveiling its Peace Broker Endeavors in the Middle East

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During Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' visit to Beijing in June, China pledged to provide "Chinese wisdom, Chinese strength" to help find a resolution to the longstanding Israel-Palestinian conflict.

After brokering a reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, China's pledge to expand its diplomatic influence in the traditionally US-dominated Middle East was widely acknowledged. However, Beijing's ability to mediate peace in a longstanding conflict is currently being challenged as a new wave of warfare erupts between Israel and Gaza, following a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Chinas response to the crisis, resulting in the loss of lives, injuries, and displacement for thousands of Israelis and Palestinians, has so far only urged both sides to show restraint. Surprisingly, there has been no condemnation of Hamas for their actions, which included indiscriminate killings of civilians and the abduction of hostages, including vulnerable children and elderly individuals. Notably, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who previously presented a Beijing-led security initiative for the Middle East as an alternative to the US-led system, has remained silent regarding this conflict.

According to Jonathan Fulton, a senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council based in Abu Dhabi, China's limited influence in the region may become apparent with this initial response. Despite China being promoted as the new global peacemaker, experts believe they lack the necessary experience and expertise to significantly impact the long-standing and intricate Palestine-Israel conflict.

"You dont see governments in the region saying whats Chinas solution to this because theyre not seen as a credible actor here yet."

Chinas response

Condemnations against Hamas have been received from the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. However, Beijing has chosen not to criticize the group and instead positions itself as a neutral entity in the conflict. In a concise statement on Sunday, China's Foreign Ministry urged all involved parties to maintain calm, show restraint, and promptly cease hostilities. Beijing reiterated its backing for a "two-state solution" as the path to resolving the conflict and establishing an independent State of Palestine.

Israel has expressed dissatisfaction with Beijing's restrained response to the recent rampage carried out by Hamas. Yuval Waks, a high-ranking official from the Israeli Embassy in Beijing, stated that his country anticipated a more forceful condemnation of Hamas from China. Commenting on the matter, Waks told reporters on Sunday that during times of people being violently killed on the streets, it is not appropriate to advocate for a two-state solution.

During a bipartisan congressional visit to Beijing, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his disappointment with China's response during a meeting with Xi on Monday. Schumer conveyed his disappointment with the foreign ministry's statement, which lacked sympathy or support for the Israeli people during these tragic times. This sentiment mirrors the criticism he had previously expressed while meeting with China's foreign minister.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday.

Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Israel is at war with Hamas. Here's what to know

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning expressed deeper condolences for the civilian casualties and condemned any actions that harm civilians, following the criticism. However, she avoided specifically addressing whether China considers Hamas attacks on civilians as terrorist acts. She reiterated China's stance of neutrality and emphasized that China is a friend to both Israel and Palestine.

Beijing has refrained from explicitly mentioning Hamas and instead referred to the crisis as a general "escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel." Zhang Jun, Beijing's permanent representative to the United Nations, alluded to the involvement of "armed groups in Gaza" and stated that "intense clashes" had erupted between Israel and these groups.

Similar to Russia and several Arab countries, China perceives Hamas as a resistance organization, rather than a terrorist group, contrary to the classification by the US and European Union.

China's reluctance to label or denounce Hamas has drawn parallels with its stance on the Ukraine conflict. In that situation, Beijing has chosen not to condemn Russia's aggressive actions or characterize it as an "invasion."

And

State media coverage

The conflict portrayed on China's state-run television appears to have a biased perspective, despite claiming to be neutral.

The news program aired on the country's most popular channel, CCTV, provided minimal coverage of Hamas fighters' brutal killings of Israeli civilians. Instead, it predominantly highlighted Israel's airstrikes on Gaza, emphasizing the resulting scenes of destruction.

According to Phil Cunningham, a media consultant who monitors and analyzes the nightly news program of China Central Television (CCTV), it is evident that China is showing favoritism towards certain sides. He observed that the network's coverage of the Ukraine war displayed a pro-Russian bias, following a similar pattern. Additionally, Chinese state media promptly placed blame on the US for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The Global Times, a nationalist tabloid affiliated with the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, condemned Western countries, particularly the US, in an editorial on Monday. It highlighted their inclination to choose sides and exacerbate tensions instead of helping to diffuse the situation. The article stated that this behavior is a recurring pattern in various conflict-ridden areas, where Western nations frequently hinder the resolution of crises.

That evening, the CCTVs news segment featured footage of the USS Ford aircraft carrier, which had been deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean according to the US Defense Secretary. The segment highlighted the increased presence of the US Air Force in the region. Additionally, a Hamas spokesperson condemned the US for its involvement in the invasion against the Palestinian people.

On China's heavily censored social media platforms, numerous users have expressed their support for the Palestinians and criticized Israel, often indirectly referring to the US.

While some individuals expressed shock and outrage at the brutal killings of Israeli civilians by Hamas, the tremendous influx of anti-Israel posts serves as an indication of the predominant narrative that is permitted to dominate the online opinion landscape in this country, which is heavily curated.

Limited role

Beijing is facing a challenging situation as the conflict intensifies. According to Fulton, an analyst at the Atlantic Council, China's response aligns with its customary support towards the Palestinians in the Israel issue.

During the 2021 Gaza conflict, Beijing, as the presiding nation of the UN Security Council, expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and positioned itself as a viable alternative to the US on this matter. China's amicable relations with Palestinian leaders have been established over a considerable period of time.

Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, has visited Beijing on five occasions during his almost two decades in power. In his most recent visit in June, Xi and Abbas declared an enhancement in bilateral relations, establishing a "strategic partnership."

However, China has also strengthened its economic connections with Israel in recent times, increasing trade and investment across various sectors, including technology and infrastructure. Israel has actively participated in Beijing's Belt and Road initiative, which involved the construction of a new port in Haifa, the busiest shipping hub in the country, by a Chinese state-owned company.

However, the realization that Israel is always going to be in the US camp remains a major concern for Beijing, especially as its global rivalry with Washington heats up.

Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Political Bureau and the director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, attended a meeting in Beijing, China on March 10, 2023. The meeting included Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban, Minister of State and national security adviser of Saudi Arabia. The image was provided by a third party. China Daily/Reuters.

Iran and Saudi Arabia indicate the dawn of a fresh era, where China plays a central role. "China perceives Israel as a chance to strengthen its standing among the wider Arab world and other developing nations. By criticizing Israel, China is able to garner support from approximately 20 Arab countries in international forums. This has proven advantageous, particularly in scenarios such as passing resolutions on the issues in Xinjiang, where numerous Muslim-majority nations have expressed their support for China's approach," stated Fulton.

I believe that the Israel-Palestine conflict does not have a significant direct impact on China. However, it seems that China utilizes this conflict as a means to advance its own domestic and foreign policy goals.

China's last-minute intervention provided significant backing after Iraq and Oman had already put in a year's worth of effort, according to Fulton. Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, confirmed in June that he had been invited for an official visit to China after Abbass' trip. However, Fulton believes it is now improbable for that visit to occur.

The Israeli government is unlikely to be aligned with the Saudis or the Iranians when it comes to reaching a resolution. Their primary focus will likely be preventing future attacks from Hamas. As for a country like China, it is doubtful that they possess sufficient knowledge and involvement in the conflict to play a significant role.