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China-Middle East relations
ChinaDiplomacy

China calls for ‘calm and restraint’ as Israel declares war after deadly Hamas raid

  • China is ‘deeply concerned about the current escalation of tension and violence between Palestine and Israel’, foreign ministry says in ceasefire call
  • At least 232 Palestinians and 300 Israelis are reportedly dead after a surprise Hamas assault on Saturday sparked Israeli air strikes on Gaza

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Israeli anti-missile systems intercept rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Laura Zhou
China has called for an immediate ceasefire in a major escalation of the decades-old conflict between Palestinian fighters and the Israeli military.

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Sunday that Beijing was “deeply concerned about the … escalation of tension and violence between Palestine and Israel”.

“All parties concerned [are urged] to exercise calm and restraint, to cease fire immediately, to protect the civilian population and to prevent further deterioration of the situation,” it added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that his country was “at war”, following a surprise attack by Hamas militants.

In the aftermath, at least 313 Palestinians were killed and nearly 1,990 wounded in a day of conflict, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The Israeli death toll climbed to 350, with more than 1,800 wounded and dozens taken hostage in Gaza. The Israeli foreign ministry said the number of casualties was expected to rise soon.

In its statement, the Chinese foreign ministry did not issue any condemnation but said that the latest round of conflict “fully demonstrates that the long-term stagnation of the peace process is unsustainable”.

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