Key Points
- At least 15 Palestinians, including five children, were killed in recent Israeli air strikes
- Gaza’s Health Ministry reported continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire, with 425 Palestinians killed and more than 1,200 injured
- Since October 2023, over 71,400 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed
BEIJING: China has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza, calling on Israel to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.
Beijing emphasised the need to uphold the ceasefire, protect civilians, and prevent actions that could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region.
“We oppose any act that harms civilians and violates international law,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing on Friday.
“China hopes the ceasefire agreement will be implemented in Gaza, humanitarian crisis will be eased and stability will be restored as soon as possible,” Mao said, responding to Israeli air strikes in Gaza which killed 15 Palestinians a day earlier.
Urging Israel “in particular,” Mao said relevant parties should “exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.”
At least 15 Palestinians, including five children, have been killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza since Thursday morning, despite an existing ceasefire, according to the Palestinian official news agency Wafa.
Palestinian health officials said the strikes targeted tents sheltering displaced families, residential homes, and a school in various parts of the enclave.
Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that Israeli violations have continued since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, reporting that at least 425 Palestinians have been killed and 1,206 others injured as a result of these breaches.
Since Israel launched its military offensive in October 2023, more than 71,400 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have been killed, and over 171,000 others injured, according to Gaza health authorities.
Large parts of the enclave have been reduced to rubble, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents into repeated displacement amid the ongoing conflict.
