UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council on Sunday was urged to push for the two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict with a sense of urgency.

Saddened by the numerous civilian casualties, Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, called for urgent efforts to work for the two-state solution in which an independent State of Palestine coexists with Israel.

It should be pointed out that the root cause of the Middle East crisis is that the peace process has deviated from the right tracks, with constant erosion into the basis of the two-state solution and little adequate implementation of related UN resolutions, he told the meeting.

The international community and the related parties should break from the vicious cycle and go beyond a piecemeal approach to crisis management.

Zhang said China is gravely concerned about the clashes between Israel and armed groups in Gaza in the Palestinian territory. China is also worried about the prospects of further escalation, and calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid further escalation and to agree on a cease-fire, according to the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan told reporters before the meeting that Hamas had carried out a surprise "barbaric pogrom" and accused the militant group of "blatant, documented war crimes".

Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the United Nations, said before the consultations that Israel's impunity and international inaction are to blame for the current situation.

"Regrettably, history, for some media and politicians, starts when Israelis are killed," he said in a statement. "This is not a time to let Israel double down on its terrible choices. This is a time to tell Israel it needs to change course, that there is a path to peace where neither Palestinians nor Israelis are killed."

The council held emergency consultations behind closed doors following renewed clashes, without coming up with any document after the consultations.

In a statement on Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that violence cannot provide a solution to the conflict, and that only through negotiation leading to a two-state solution can peace be achieved.

Zhang said China supports the UN chief in pushing for negotiations and cooling down the tension and backs the Security Council in taking measures to realize a cease-fire and resume peace.

The UN said on Monday that more than 123,000 people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the conflict between Palestinian militants and Israel.

"Over 123,538 people, have been internally displaced in Gaza, mostly due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction of their homes," said the UN's humanitarian agency.

XINHUA—CHINA DAILY