Headline: China Urges Israel to Halt West Bank Settlements and Calls for Renewed Middle East Peace Talks

Date: 16 October 2026

Tags: World Politics, China, Israel-Palestine Conflict, Middle East

Summary:

- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Israel to stop expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank and reverse its actions.

- Wang raised the issue during talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at a conference in Azerbaijan on Thursday.

- China reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution and called for renewed diplomatic negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

- Wang described the Palestinian situation as a major historical injustice and urged immediate humanitarian access to Gaza.

- China offered to work with international partners to restart dialogue and pursue a political settlement.

- Herzog emphasised Israel's desire for regional peace while highlighting security threats from Iran and its allied groups.

- Beijing has increasingly positioned itself as a Middle East mediator, including brokering restored diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

- China's 2024 agreement between rival Palestinian factions to establish an interim unity government has not been implemented.

- Gaza's health ministry reports more than 1,400 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes since the October 2025 ceasefire.

- Progress towards the next phase of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire remains stalled, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violations.

Why this matters: China's intervention reflects its growing diplomatic involvement in the Middle East and continued support for Palestinian statehood. Disagreements over Israeli settlements and continuing violence in Gaza remain significant obstacles to a lasting peace agreement.

What’s next: China says it will continue working with international partners to encourage negotiations and improve humanitarian access to Gaza. Further progress depends on Israel and Hamas resolving disputes over the ceasefire and advancing discussions on a broader political settlement.