Chinese envoy visits the Middle East in a bid to de-escalate conflict in Gaza

China’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike will be visiting a number of states in the Middle East, including Palestine and Israel, in a tour of the region that began yesterday and will continue until 26th of July.

Anadolu news agency quoted the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hong Lei, as saying that his country’s special envoy will be holding meetings in relevant states in a bid “to ease tensions in the region”.

Lei stressed that China is willing to cooperate with the international community to reach a ceasefire between Palestine and Israel as soon as possible and to end the conflict through political means.

“China would like to play a positive and constructive role for the early realisation of Palestine-Israel peace,” he added.

Israel has been waging a relentless air and sea assault on the Gaza Strip for more than a week. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported yesterday that 194 Palestinians had been killed as a result.

Israeli media announced yesterday the first Israeli death from Palestinian rockets.