Stop collective punishment of people of Gaza: China tells Israel

Beijing: China has urged Israeli government to stop its ‘collective punishment of the people of Gaza’, news agency AFP reported.

Referring to Israel’s continuing attack in Gaza, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said that it has gone ‘beyond the scope of self-defence’.

Wang made the remarks on a call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday.

China’s response to Israel- Palestine conflict comes as the Gaza is experiencing heightened attacks with people having no access to water, power and food.

China’s foreign ministry readout further said ‘It should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza.’

More than 2.200 people in Gaza have so far been killed after Israel launched retaliatory bombing in response to Hamas’ attack on Israel days ago that killed 1,300 people.

Gaza, home to more than 2.3 million residents, has been under a land, air and sea blockade since 2006, according to AFP.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that parties to the conflict should return to negotiation rather than escalating the situation.

Wang Yi earlier on Saturday told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the US should ‘play a constructive and responsible role’ , while urging to call an ‘ international peace meeting’.

Meanwhile, Western officials criticized China for not specifically naming Hamas in its condemnation of violence happening in Middle East.

China's special envoy Zhai Jun met with the Arab League's representatives in China and offered ‘unremitting efforts’ to bring peace process back on track in the Middle East.