The United Nations Security Council meeting on Tuesday served as a stark reminder of the immense suffering that is being inflicted on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Geng Shuang unequivocally condemned the ongoing Israeli military operations in Rafah and throughout Gaza, calling them a "collective punishment" against the Palestinian people and a severe violation of international law and human conscience.

His words painted a grim picture of the reality on the ground: a humanitarian catastrophe where civilians, including a large number of women and children, perish not in the cross fire, but in a deliberately man-made crisis of starvation, disease and deprivation.

Geng called not for a temporary pause in the fighting, but for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. This is indispensable, as without it all other efforts will be built on sand.

He also emphasized that the two-state solution remains the only viable foundation for lasting peace. But concrete actions are necessary to support the Palestinian Authority's capacity for governance and to facilitate the early convening of a more broad-based, authoritative international peace conference if this is to be more than just an empty slogan.

The recent adoption, with overwhelming support, of a UN General Assembly resolution granting Palestine full UN membership is a clear reflection of the will of the international community. It is morally and politically imperative that the UN Security Council listens to this consensus and does its part to rectify the historical injustice endured by the Palestinian people for decades.

The proceedings at the UN Security Council, however, reveal a profound and telling truth: While the vast majority of council members and the international community are united in calling for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a political solution based on the two-state solution, one permanent member — the United States — continues to obstruct these goals. It has repeatedly used its veto power to block ceasefire resolutions and continues to supply arms to Israel.

Its stance undermines the authority and effectiveness of the UN Security Council and makes it complicit in the humanitarian crisis created by Israel.

In contrast, in a powerful testament to China's consistent and unwavering position on the Palestinian question, Geng presented a clear, constructive and principled path forward in the meeting.

The path to peace is challenging, but it is not invisible. As Geng said, it requires the immediate cessation of hostilities, unhindered humanitarian aid, and a return to meaningful negotiations aimed at realizing the two-state solution.

China has been actively engaged in de-escalation efforts, and it is providing emergency humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered Palestinians in Gaza, as well as supporting the critical work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The international community must heed the call of justice, overcome the paralysis of the few and the obstruction of one, and work collectively to bring a definitive end to the cycle of violence. The Palestinian people have waited long enough for their legitimate rights to be upheld. The time for action is now.