A group of Arab and Muslim ministers is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They are currently in Beijing as their first stop on a visit to five countries, with the goal of negotiating an end to hostilities and allowing humanitarian aid to reach the devastated Palestinian enclave.

The delegation includes representatives from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine, and Organizations for Islamic Cooperation. The ministers are putting pressure on the West to reject Israel’s justification of its actions against the Palestinians as self-defense.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized the need for an end to fighting and killings in Gaza immediately and for humanitarian supplies to be delivered. The delegation aims to send a clear signal of support for their cause.

Israel’s ambassador to Beijing, Irit Ben-Abba, expressed hope that there would be no declaration of a ceasefire from this visit, stating that it is not the time. She also called for discussions about the hostages captured by Hamas. The Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi affirmed Beijing’s support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and their national rights.

China has repeatedly called for de-escalation between Israel and Palestine and for the pursuit of a two-state solution for an independent Palestine. They aim to ease the humanitarian crisis and work towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. China’s special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, has been engaging officials from Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as well as the Arab League and the EU to discuss these solutions further.