Russia and China Rally Support for Palestinians Amid Israel-Gaza Conflict
October 20: With tensions escalating in the Middle East due to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, China and Russia are finding common ground with several countries in the region by supporting the Palestinian cause. The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has stirred anger across the Middle East, and Moscow and Beijing see this as an opportunity to bolster their positions as advocates for the developing world, contrasting with the United States’ unwavering support for Israel.
China has consistently called for restraint and a ceasefire but has also intensified its criticism of Israel’s actions. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Israel’s actions had surpassed the scope of self-defense, urging it to halt its “collective punishment” of Gaza residents.
Russia has expressed sympathy for the Palestinians while putting the blame on the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that this situation represents a clear failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
Both President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have been actively seeking to strengthen their ties with the global south, identifying economic opportunities and a potential means to counterbalance the diplomatic influence of the U.S. and its allies.
This approach was evident when China hosted a summit for President Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative, which has contributed hundreds of billions of dollars to infrastructure projects across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. During the summit, President Putin engaged in three hours of discussions with President Xi, including a detailed conversation about the Palestinian-Israeli situation.
While the strategies of Russia and China in the Middle East are not entirely aligned, they share common ground. Both countries have a history of supporting the Palestinians and are critical of what they perceive as U.S. marginalization of the Palestinian cause.
Russia’s state media has reported sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, and China dispatched its Middle East envoy to the region, where he met with Russia’s special representative. Russia has also announced coordination of Middle East policy with China.
Chinese media initially reported on the Hamas attacks on October 7. However, subsequent reports have focused on Palestinian suffering, often citing Palestinian sources that attribute responsibility to Israel.
Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine provides an additional incentive for aligning with the Palestinian cause. The U.S. has been trying to garner support from the global south for Ukraine, and portraying the U.S. as a contributor to the Israel-Palestine conflict can undermine that effort.
China, viewing the U.S. as its primary geopolitical rival, seeks to play the global south card. While not explicitly supporting Hamas, China is quietly contributing to resistance against U.S. efforts to build international support for Israel.
Ma Xiaolin, a Middle East expert and professor at Zhejiang International Studies University, suggested that China is striving to maintain an even-handed approach between the Palestinians and Israel. However, if the conflict escalates and leads to more humanitarian casualties, China may shift its stance in favor of the Palestinians, particularly if Israel continues to receive support from the United States.
In summary, China and Russia are increasingly aligning themselves with countries in the Middle East that support the Palestinian cause, presenting an alternative perspective to the stance of the United States in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
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