On Sunday, a Chinese diplomat met with the head of Hamas for a scheduled consultation in Qatar. The encounter was the first time that an official of the Gaza based terrorist organization met with a representative from Beijing since the October massacre in southern Israel.
Wang Kejian, an envoy from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in a meeting with the chief of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh. According to a Chinese statement on the dialogue, the two individuals “exchanged views on the Gaza conflict and other issues.”
In a post-event press release, a Hamas spokesperson claimed that Wang told Haniyeh that the terror-leader’s associates are "part of the Palestinian national fabric,” and that China is "standing by the just demands of the Palestinian people for freedom, independence, and statehood."
China’s ambassador to Qatar, Cao Xiaolin, was reported to also be in attendance.
The visit came days after Wang traveled to Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank to offer mediation assistance related to the current conflict in the region. The diplomatic trip was consistent with recent attempts by Beijing to increase its role as a global mediator.
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has urged the United States to use its position as a United Nations Security Council member to push for a Palestinian State.
Related Story: Here’s How China is Helping Iran Bankroll Hamas, Other Terror Orgs
