China tells Israel to stop 'forced establishment' of West Bank settlements

What the report says

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Israel to stop what Beijing described as the “forced establishment” of West Bank settlements and to reverse those actions during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to China’s foreign ministry and BBC reporting. The two met on the sidelines of a conference in Azerbaijan on Thursday. Wang also framed the Palestinian issue as a major historical injustice and reiterated China’s support for a two-state solution.

The exchange comes as China continues to present itself as a possible mediator in Middle East conflicts. Beijing has backed Palestinian unity efforts, has previously helped broker a diplomatic thaw between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and has recently called for greater access to Gaza and a political path toward ending the conflict. Herzog said in a post on X that the discussion focused on bilateral ties and the regional situation, while also stressing Israel’s security concerns and threats from Iran and its allies.

The reporting also places the meeting against the backdrop of the Gaza war and its aftermath. BBC said the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire began in October 2025, but implementation of later stages has stalled. More broadly, the development matters because it highlights China’s public criticism of Israeli settlement policy and its effort to increase diplomatic influence in a conflict that remains unresolved.