UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on parties in the Middle East conflict to strive for the early restoration of stability in the region.

For some time, the Middle East situation has escalated dramatically with widespread consequences, gravely disrupting regional stability and affecting the global economy and energy security. The current situation stands at a critical stage of transition from war to peace, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

"China urges all parties to seize this window of peace, exercise utmost restraint, demonstrate maximum sincerity, and remain steadfast in the direction of a political settlement to prevent any retrogression in the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations, and strive for the early restoration of stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region," he said at a Security Council open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

The Palestinian question has always been at the heart of the Middle East issue, and must not be marginalized under any circumstances, said Fu.

He called on all concerned parties, especially Israel, to fully abide by the ceasefire agreement to ensure a comprehensive and durable ceasefire throughout Gaza. He said Israel must fulfill its international humanitarian law obligations, dismantle all barriers to humanitarian access, and guarantee that humanitarian agencies can carry out their aid work.

Settlement activities are unacceptable, and tensions in the West Bank must be de-escalated, said Fu.

"Settlement activities contravene international law and Security Council resolutions. Prolonging the illegal occupation will not make either party feel safer. Rather, it will intensify a vicious cycle," he said. "Israel must heed the strong appeals of the international community, immediately halt illegal settlement activities, effectively curb settler violence, and ensure robust accountability for all attacks."

It is deeply concerning that voices opposing the two-state solution continue to come from Israel, with some even threatening to strangle the idea of a Palestinian state, said Fu.

The two-state solution remains the only viable pathway to resolving the Palestinian question. Any unilateral action that erodes its foundation must be firmly rejected, and any future arrangements or formation of new mechanisms must adhere to the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine, serving to promote, rather than undermine, the two-state solution. The international community must increase support for Palestine to advance the early establishment of a fully sovereign and independent State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, he said.

China stands ready to continue working alongside the international community to bring an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people, implement the two-state solution, and achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question at an early date, said Fu. ■