Ministers of Arab, Muslim countries visit China, insist on an immediate end to the war on Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud said, "We are here to send a clear message to (China) that we must immediately stop the fighting and deaths."

A delegation of Arab and Muslim ministers arrived in Beijing on Monday for the first leg of their visit to increase pressure for humanitarian access to the devastated Palestinian territory of Gaza, where they called for an immediate end to the war on Gaza.

According to the British news agency Reuters, this delegation of top diplomats from Arab and Muslim-majority countries is pressuring the West to reject the justification of Israel's defense against the Palestinians.

China is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Foreign ministers and senior officials from Saudi Arabia , Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, among others, are among the officials who met with China 's top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday .

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said, "We are here to send a clear message that we must immediately stop the fighting and deaths, we must immediately provide humanitarian aid to Gaza."

An extraordinary joint meeting was held in Riyadh this month at the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League, which also called on the International Criminal Court to investigate "Israeli atrocities" in the Palestinian territories. Investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Saudi Arabia sought to pressure the United States and Israel to end the fighting in Gaza and gathered Arab and Muslim leaders to reinforce that message.

About 240 people were taken prisoner in an attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7. Since then, Israel's attacks on Gaza have continued.

The Gaza government says that at least 13,000 Palestinians, including at least 5,500 children, have lost their lives in Israeli bombing since then.

'Brother and Friend'

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Xi said Beijing is "a good friend and brother of Arab and Muslim countries and has always fully supported the just cause of restoring the legitimate rights and interests of the Palestinian people."

Since Israel's attacks on Gaza, China's foreign ministry has refrained from condemning Hamas and instead urged Israel and Palestine to ease tensions and move toward a "two-state solution" for an independent Palestine. .

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi added that China would "work to end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and achieve an early, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue."

China's special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, last year contacted Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as well as Arab League and European Union officials, to discuss the two-state solution and recognition of Palestine at the United Nations. 

It's been a week since the military council blocked the entire state of Rakhine

Since November 13, when the battle between the Military Council Army and the Rakhine Army (AA) began in Rakhine State, the Military Council has controlled the entire state, both by land and road. Entering from the waterway It has been a week since November 20th that the exit was blocked.

In addition to the highways that include the southern and northern parts of Rakhine State, there is a road from one city to another in Rakhine State. Roads leading to villages are closed indefinitely with checkpoints.

On November 19, students who came to the university in Taungkot from various townships were strictly inspected and allowed to return home, but other civilians and goods were banned from being exported, residents said.

Car ticket to return home  On November 19, 2023, Sittwe University's distance learning students waiting to get fast boat tickets and submit applications.  (Photo: Citizen Journalist)

Car ticket to return home On November 19, 2023, Sittwe University's distance learning students waiting to get fast boat tickets and submit applications. (Photo: Citizen Journalist)

A motorist on the Sittwe-Rangoon route, who did not want to be named for security reasons, told RFA that the military council had completely closed the Sittwe-Rangoon highway.

"It was closed on the 13th, so the goods are not allowed to go out. All closed. Cars from Yangon did not come out. Military vehicles are also not allowed to go out. The road will be opened again after everything is calm and peaceful. He said that kind of thing. All of us drivers cook and eat here."

In Rakhine state, basic food products, including medicine and fuel, are mainly dependent on the mainland, so now all goods flows have stopped completely, he said.

A local resident of Sittwe, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said that the entire state, both by land and road. He told RFA that because the waterway is closed, the locals are having a lot of trouble.

"The roads can't go anywhere. waterways, It's a situation where you can't go anywhere by land. In the city, the people who are selling and eating normally, the markets have all stopped, so people are not trading, We are in a position where we will face a lot of difficulties with the economic crisis."

Sittwe City is currently under curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and many places, including the Rakhine state office of the military council, are under tight security.

Due to the military council army's heavy weapons fire, Phongtaw, Maungdaw hermit mountain gourd mountain Stone you plate North, More than 4,700 households (4,765 groups) from the map and Brahmin Island. (UNOCHA) announced on November 17 that more than 26,000 people (26,175 people) are fleeing.

"It's a way to harm the people. The military council has been working hard on that method for the past few days."

Because of the big weapon, Maungdaw North, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) said that at least 11 local residents were killed and more than 30 were injured in Kyauktao and An townships, and more than 100 were arrested by the military council.

In addition, the road that connects the townships, UN OCHA has also reported that humanitarian aid has been suspended due to the restriction of the waterway since November 13 by the Military Council.

Former MP U Pe Than told RFA that the Military Council Army is trying to undermine support for the Rakhine Army (AA) by causing harm to the people.

"It's a way to harm the people. The military council has been working hard on that method for the past few days. That's why people eat, drink, Living I am experiencing quite a lot of difficulties with security. AA forced you to do this. AA and people turn and fight. It's like burning down a barn that can't beat rats. To make people's support for AA fall. Do not support. I see it as a way to make people see the sins of AA."

But this time, the method of harming the people is no longer likely to succeed, he said.

In the comeback battle that started in August 2022, they blocked the northern Rakhine townships and attacked civilians. U Fe Than said that because of the arrests, (AA) had to discuss a ceasefire, and it was only on November 26, 2022 that the ceasefire was reached.

RFA contacted State Attorney General U Hla Thein, the military council's spokesman for Rakhine State, for a response to the blockade, but he did not pick up the phone.

According to the Myanmar Light newspaper issued today by the Military Council, about ten thousand students who came to Sittwe to return home, both by land and land. It is written that it has been arranged from the waterway.

Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, who was authorized to speak in the military council, also added to Myanmar Light that because the AA is attacking in Rakhine, it is hindering the development of Rakhine.

RFA contacted Rakhine Army (AA) spokesperson U Khaing Thukha for a response, but has yet to receive a response.

Rakhine political analysts believe that the current fighting in Rakhine is related to the 1027 operation in northern Shan State, so the fighting may become more widespread and local residents may be affected more.