“We condemn all acts of harm to civilians, oppose any violation of international law and urge all parties to the conflict to immediately and completely end the fighting, respect international humanitarian law and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe on a larger scale,” he added.

In addition to advocating an immediate and complete ceasefire in the enclave, Beijing calls for the effective implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.

For China, any future agreement must adhere to the principle of a “government of Palestine by the Palestinians”, the internal reconciliation of the Palestinian people and a peace treaty based on the two-state solution.

Last week the International Court of Justice avoided ordering a ceasefire in Gaza in its ruling on a South African accusation against Israel for its actions against the Palestinian people. However, it ordered Israel not to commit genocide in its military operation and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Strip.

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