China’s state run media has been quick to distort Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israeli civilians, and Israel’s response. The CCP media is once again on full-throttle propaganda mode, portraying Israel as the once-and-future aggressor and the Palestinians as the perennial victims, while de-emphasizing Hamas’ war crimes. As with other world events, China portrays itself as the best positioned to broker peace, while the US is fanning the flames of war.
CCP Claim: Israel is Blind with Rage, and Will Commit War Crimes
Taking a page from Hamas’ propaganda that Jews are warmongers, China claims that Israel is blind with rage and revenge. Global Times, citing a Chinese research fellow, claims that “…with Israel’s revenge instinct uncurbed, a ground operation in Gaza seems inevitable, and therefore more bloodshed.” Another Global Times article claims that “Israel continues to be driven by rage and retaliation and is adamantly pursuing military action in Gaza.” A China Daily article stated that Israel’s “…’self-defense’ has apparently gone too far this time.” This echoes statements by the Chinese foreign minister, as cited by Global Times, that “Israel’s actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense.”
China also calls on Israel to restrain itself, as it prejudges Israel as certain to commit international law violations at a later time, while ignoring Hamas’ self-evident war crimes. For example, Global Times states that “If Israel continues with its planned ground offensive when Gaza has already been facing a growing humanitarian crisis, such actions clearly go against the international law and will draw much diplomatic and public opinion pressure on Israel.” This quote disregards Hamas’ abuse and neglect of Gaza over the years, and the now well-documented war crimes Hamas committed on October 7.
CCP Claim: Hamas Has Merely Attacked Israel’s Military and “Settlements”
In a gross distortion, China portrays Hamas’ slaughter as targeting Israel’s military and “settlements,” whitewashing its pre-meditated massacre of civilians. “Hamas launched a surprise attack on… Israel’s military, catching them off guard and resulting in significant casualties that have shocked the world,” quips an article from Global Times. Another Global Times article stated that Hamas penetrat[ed] multiple military bases and Israeli settlements.” Both articles brazenly omit that Hamas targeted Israeli civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, while the second article’s false label of the targeted Israeli towns as “settlements” further de-emphasizes the victims.
CCP Claim: Palestinians Have Right to Justice Above Israel’s Right to Self-Defense
China also emphasizes the right of Palestinian “justice,” while de-emphasizing Israel’s right to justice from Hamas’ killing spree, According to China Daily, “On the question of Palestine, China will continue to stand on the side of peace, justice, international law, shared aspirations and conscience….There is no shortage of injustice in the world, but the injustice done to the Palestinian people has dragged on for far too long. Peace is incumbent upon the Palestinian people getting justice.” This completely ignores the multiple ways that Hamas violated all sense of peace, justice, and international law in the October 7 attacks, as well as in Hamas’ incessant attacks on Israel generally.
CCP Claim: China Can Broker Peace
China portrays itself as well-positioned to broker Israeli-Palestinian peace. To do this, China establishes its “street cred” with Arabs. For example, “China is a true, staunch, faithful friend to both the Arab and Muslim worlds,” boasts Global Times, while this and other articles leave out similar platitudes towards the Jewish State. “China can also work with more Arab countries because China’s position on the Palestinian issue aligns with that of Arab countries,” chimes in a Chinese think tank analyst as cited by another Global Times article.
China’s proposed solution to the conflict starts with a “ceasefire.” “After a conflict occurs, China’s consistent stance is to call for a ceasefire and engage in a dialogue to resolve the issue, rather than escalating the conflict,” according to Global Times. This position disregards the fact that a ceasefire would play into the hands of Hamas, given their history of violating ceasefires. Further, promoting a ceasefire would allow Hamas to get away with the murder of 1,400 souls and kidnapping of about 220 more, and enable Hamas to commit such heinous acts in the future.
China’s diplomatic vision culminates in the frequently peddled, dated framework of a “two-state solution.” “The fundamental way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state,” according to Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, as cited by China Daily. Such a warped conclusion ignores the multiple times the Palestinians were offered autonomy but either rejected it or didn’t have a counter-offer, and both Hamas’ and the Palestinian Authority’s stated goal to kill Jews and destroy Israel.
CCP Claim: The US is Hindering Peace
While China portrays itself as a level-headed and wise peacemaker, it throws shade on the US as being a major obstacle to peace. According to China Daily, “Washington’s foreign policy on the Palestinian issue has impeded the early resolution of the conflict…” In the conflict, “the US is stoking the fire,” according to Global Times. Another Global Times article similarly states that “…the quick decision of the US and some Western countries to take sides not only does not help solve the problem but also adds fuel to the fire.”
A third Global Times article puts the blame squarely on the US:
First of all, the US abandoned justice by supporting Israel in its conflict with Palestine and condoning Israel’s behaviors, which eventually led to this tragedy. Since the beginning of this year, the US, which claims to be the mediator for peace in the Middle East and the most important ally of Israel, has not fulfilled its obligation to promote justice and prevent tensions from escalating. Instead, it has become an accomplice in stirring up the conflict between Palestine and Israel.
These articles ignore the self-evident inflammatory actions of Hamas and Iran towards the current situation, and regional strife generally.
China hopes to continue its geopolitical charm offensive by inserting itself into the recent Hamas-Israel war. In 2023, it helped broker deals between Iran and Saudi Arabia and between Syria and the Arab League, and is seeking to broker a Russia-Ukraine deal as well. But by whitewashing Hamas and trumpeting itself as the right choice to mediate, China is hoping to weaken Israel, as well as US influence in the region.
