China convenes Arab and Muslim diplomats to address Israel-Hamas conflict

China hosted a major meeting in Beijing with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Indonesia to discuss the Israel-Hamas war. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed China's commitment to working with Arab and Islamic countries to end the conflict and support the Palestinian cause. The meeting highlights China's growing geopolitical influence and longstanding support for the Palestinians. Notably, China has refrained from criticizing the initial Hamas attack, while the US and others have called it an act of terrorism. The foreign ministers will visit other capitals to pursue a ceasefire and provide aid to Gaza. However, China's support for Muslim leaders contrasts with its own human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic groups in Xinjiang.