China expressed “deep concern” over the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, calling for a ceasefire in a telephone conversation between one of its diplomats and an Israeli official on Thursday, China’s foreign ministry said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing (China)Photo: Ju Huanzong / Xinhua News / Profimedia
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“China is deeply concerned about the escalation of tensions and violence between Israel and Palestine (and) is saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict,” Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy to the Middle East, told Rafael Harpaz, an official at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to a press release. , published by Beijing on Thursday, reported by AFP and Agerpres.

China “condemns the harm caused to innocent civilians and calls for an early cessation of hostilities and violence, as well as the resumption of peace talks based on the two-state solution to strengthen the confidence of the peoples of both sides to achieve peace,” Zhai said, according to with the document.

“China sincerely hopes that Israel and Palestine can coexist peacefully, and is ready to cooperate with the international community to promote peace talks and create the necessary conditions for achieving peace,” the Chinese emissary said.

Beijing announced on Thursday that three of its citizens had been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, while two others were “missing” and “several people were injured”.

In another phone call, this time with a Palestinian official, Zhai stressed that China is “deeply concerned about the serious deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Palestine,” according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

“The main priorities are an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians,” the Chinese diplomat insisted.

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