China is seeking to work with Egypt to assist ease the Israel-Hamas war that erupted following a surprising attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, its Middle East envoy has said as he suggested a ceasefire.
According to a readout of the conversation published by Beijing, Zhai Jun spoke by phone on Tuesday with Egypt’s assistant minister for the Palestinian territories.
Zhai said, “China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Egypt, push both parties of the conflict to cease fire, and stop violence as soon as possible.”
“The international community to form a joint force and provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people”, he urged.
Thousands of people have been killed since Hamas’s surprise attack on Saturday, the deadliest on Israel in its 75-year history.
The death toll in Israel rose on Wednesday to 1,200 people, most of them civilians.
In Gaza, meanwhile, officials have reported that more than 900 people were killed as Israel pounded the territory with air strikes.
Since the attack, Egypt has strengthened its push for diplomatic measures to de-escalate the spiraling violence.
Egypt has historically been a critical mediator between Israel and the Palestinians and was the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
Alongside Israel, it has jointly blockaded the Gaza Strip since 2007.
Meanwhile, China has placed itself in recent months as a mediator in the Middle East, brokering a restoration of relations in March between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
