China on Wednesday called on Israel to immediately halt its military operations in Gaza, warning that continued escalation would worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in the territory.
Speaking at a UN Security Council open debate on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said the conflict in Gaza has dragged on for nearly 700 days, leaving it a living hell for its two million residents.
Violence cannot bring security and force cannot bring peace, Mr. Geng said, condemning recent Israeli attacks, including the August 25 attack on Nasser Hospital that killed more than 20 civilians. He warned that Israel's plan to seize Gaza City would cause further bloodshed, displacement and insecurity.