Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells Israeli President Isaac Herzog that settlement expansion must stop, reiterating Beijing’s support for a two-state solution and improved humanitarian access to Gaza.
BEIJING, China — October 16, 2026: China has urged Israel to stop and reverse its settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, reiterating its support for Palestinian rights, a two-state solution and renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered the message during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Azerbaijan, according to a statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday.
Wang said China continued to regard the Palestinian question as one of the most significant historical injustices of the century. He called for peace, reconciliation and renewed dialogue to address the conflict and reduce regional tensions.
China Calls for Reversal of West Bank Settlement Expansion
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang urged Israel to halt and reverse what Beijing described as the forced establishment of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Settlement expansion has remained a major point of international disagreement, with Palestinian representatives and numerous governments arguing that it undermines Palestinian territorial rights and the prospects for an independent state.
The United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 2334 states that Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and calls for an end to settlement activities. The International Court of Justice also concluded in its 2024 advisory opinion that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and addressed the legal consequences of its settlement policies.
Israel disputes key international legal characterisations concerning the territory and its policies.
Beijing Reiterates Support for Two-State Solution
Wang reiterated China’s position that a two-state solution remains the appropriate path towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The proposal envisages an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, with negotiations addressing outstanding issues, including borders, security and the status of Jerusalem.
China has consistently called for a political settlement and greater international engagement in efforts to resolve the conflict.
Wang also stressed the importance of peace and reconciliation as central elements of China’s Middle East policy, according to the ministry’s statement.
China Calls for Improved Humanitarian Access to Gaza
The Chinese foreign minister said the immediate priority should include fully opening access to the Gaza Strip to prevent a further humanitarian catastrophe.
Humanitarian access has remained a central issue in international discussions over the conflict, with aid agencies and governments focusing on the delivery of essential supplies and the protection of civilians.
Wang said China was willing to work with the international community to encourage the parties to return to dialogue and consultation and pursue a political settlement.
Meeting Held Amid Continuing Regional Tensions
The meeting between Wang and Herzog took place in Azerbaijan amid continuing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Herzog said in a social media post that their discussion covered bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East. His office did not publicly confirm the details of the discussion concerning settlements, according to Reuters.
China’s statement therefore provides the principal public account of Wang’s position on the West Bank during the meeting.
The latest remarks underscore Beijing’s continued diplomatic opposition to settlement expansion and its call for renewed political efforts to resolve the conflict. Whether the appeal will lead to any change in Israeli settlement policy remains uncertain.
