Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian holds historic meeting with Hamas leader Haniyeh in Qatar

Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian recently met with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, according to China's Foreign Ministry. This marks the first acknowledged meeting between a Chinese official and Hamas since the conflict in Gaza began.

Prior to this meeting, Wang had visited both Israel and the occupied West Bank, becoming the first envoy from Beijing to travel to these regions since Hamas' attacks on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli response in Gaza.

Wang and Haniyeh discussed the Gaza conflict and other matters during their meeting on Sunday, as per a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Haniyeh emphasized the importance of ending aggression and violence, calling for the Israeli military to withdraw from Gaza. He also highlighted the goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state. The meeting was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Qatar Cao Xiaolin, as mentioned in a press release from the Hamas government media office.

Hamas praised China for its contributions in the Security Council, the United Nations, and the International Court of Justice regarding the recent war, according to a statement from the militant group.

The statement also mentioned a meeting between Hamas and Cao in Qatar at the end of last month. However, no information about this meeting was released by China's Foreign Ministry or its embassy in Qatar.

Wang is visiting the region to support peace efforts and to express Beijing's stance against the Gaza war. As a former ambassador to Lebanon, he started his visit on March 10 in Egypt, then continued to the West Bank, Israel, and Qatar. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has been a key focus of his discussions during this unannounced trip.

Fighting started on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in more than 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages. In response, Israeli forces have been carrying out continuous airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas. The death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 31,000, as reported by the Ministry of Health in the region.

Displaced Palestinians gather to collect food donated by a charitable youth group before breakfast, on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on March 12, 2024.

Displaced Palestinians in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, come together to receive food donations from a generous youth group. This gathering takes place before breakfast on the second day of Ramadan, March 12, 2024.

The image captured by Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post shows the heartwarming scene of the community coming together to support one another during this holy month.

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Beijing refrained from mentioning or criticizing Hamas following the October 7 attacks. Instead, it has denounced the war and strongly supported a prompt ceasefire and the establishment of a "two-state" solution.

While in the West Bank, Wang held discussions with the Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki. The Chinese representative expressed China's significant worry about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

He promised to collaborate with the global community to quickly end the war and reach a fair and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue through a two-state solution, as reported by China's Foreign Ministry.

During his visit to Israel, Wang emphasized the importance of a comprehensive ceasefire, ending the war, ensuring humanitarian aid, and protecting civilians in a meeting with Israeli foreign affairs officials, as stated in a separate Chinese report.

China sent Zhai Jun, a special envoy for the Middle East, to the region after the October 7 attack. However, it is unclear whether he visited the Palestinian Territories or Israel. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held meetings in Egypt at the beginning of the year, but his visits to the two countries were not confirmed.

In addition to these visits, Chinese officials have been in contact with Israeli and Palestinian officials since the start of the war. In November, Beijing hosted a delegation from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian National Authority, and Indonesia, showing China's continued involvement in the region.

Beijing has taken advantage of the war to demonstrate its support for the Arab world and Global South, presenting its perspectives as differing from those of the United States.

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Wang expressed his concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza during a press conference in Beijing. He emphasized the urgent need for the international community to prioritize achieving an immediate ceasefire to prevent further suffering.

In addition, Wang stated that China stands in support of Palestine's full membership in the United Nations. He also called out certain members of the UN Security Council for potentially obstructing this goal, making a subtle reference to the United States' support for Israel's actions in response to Hamas' recent attack.

China has proposed holding an international peace conference and establishing a clear timeline for putting a two-state solution into action. It remains uncertain how much influence China has in the area to effectively support this initiative, but the idea of an independent Palestinian state coexisting with Israel aligns with China's established foreign policy. China was among the earliest nations to acknowledge Palestine as an independent state in the late 1980s and has consistently promoted a two-state resolution.

Beijing has been criticized for its treatment of Palestinians, while facing accusations of rights abuses against minorities in Xinjiang. The UN's highest human rights office has reported "serious human rights violations" against Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, with some suggesting it could amount to "crimes against humanity." It is believed that over a million people may have been placed in "re-education" camps in Xinjiang, although Beijing denies these allegations.

CNN’s Nectar Gan, Sophie Jeong and Celine Alkhaldi contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The meeting between Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh marks a significant development in China's involvement in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While Beijing has previously refrained from directly engaging with Hamas, this meeting suggests a shift in its approach. China's increasing involvement in the region could potentially contribute to efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, although it remains to be seen how much influence China has in the area.

The article also highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, with China positioning itself as a supporter of the Arab world and the Global South while criticizing certain members of the UN Security Council, likely referring to the United States. China's proposed international peace conference and timeline for a two-state solution align with its established foreign policy, but it remains unclear how much influence it has to effectively support this initiative. Additionally, the article raises concerns about China's treatment of Palestinians and its alleged human rights abuses against minorities in Xinjiang, which may complicate its efforts to engage with the region. must work collectively to address the underlying causes of instability and promote peace and justice for all parties involved.