Is China emerging as the Key mediator, challenging US dominance?

Israel's attacks on Gaza appear to be unabated. Attacks are occurring indiscriminately, targeting civilians and even hospitals at any time and in any place. The fact that the US, Britain, Germany, and France claim the right to "Israel's self-defense" and the US stands by with weapons after Hamas rocket attacks towards Israel has given Israel special confidence to attack Gaza.

Former US President Barack Obama said, ‘Palestinian children have the right to grow up in the identity of their country.’ The foreign policy of the current President Joe Biden's administration aims to promote ‘democracy and human rights.’ However, the way the Biden administration has exclusively sided with Israel and how Biden has spread false information (later retracted) about the beheading of children by Hamas is surprising.

Qatar and Egypt are currently in contact with Hamas and Israel. Another conciliatory party has emerged in this war, China. China has already gained a foothold in Middle East politics by diplomatically mediating between arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. In the recent past, Beijing has expressed interest in mediating the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and at the beginning of this war, China reiterated its position in favor of an independent Palestine.

In a statement released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, ‘Israel's actions in the Palestinian Gaza Strip exceeded the limits of self-defense. The Israeli government must stop the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.’

China has already gained a foothold in Middle East politics by diplomatically mediating between arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Zhai Jun, China's special envoy to the Middle East, recently visited Gaza. This is a significant diplomatic visit to the war-torn and besieged Gaza Strip. Zhai Jun also attended the ‘Peace Conference’ in Cairo. Zhai Jun also met with Rafi Harpage, Director General of the Department of Asia-Pacific Affairs of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the Israeli Embassy in Beijing on October 13.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi talked with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli over the telephone between Zhai Jun's visits to Cairo and Gaza. In that phone conversation, the Chinese foreign minister said, ‘Every country has the right to self-defense. However, in exercising that right, care must be taken to ensure compliance with international law and the protection of civilians.’ It seems evident that China is maintaining effective communication with both sides. The main Israeli-US priority at the moment is not to let the war go beyond Israel-Palestine and to single-handedly corner Hamas through repression. Israel fears Hezbollah involvement in the war. On the other hand, no matter how much Netanyahu and radical Jews try to blame Iran, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, ‘His country does not want war with Iran.’ As a result, a truce could be created within months when Israel's ‘retaliation’ against Hamas ends.

The United States and the West have lost the credibility to mediate a ceasefire. As a result, China is definitely going to take that opportunity. China has deep and trusting ties with the Palestinians, just as it has investments in Israel.

Recently, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told the UN Security Council that, ‘the US will work with China to control the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.’

So, China is going to be the top mediator whenever the Hamas-Israel war ends. After diplomatic mediation between Saudi-Iran, if Beijing can successfully mediate the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, it will be a new milestone in its Middle East diplomacy.