China joins calls for Israel to halt military operations in Gaza

Israel has signalled its ground offensive may soon target Rafah, the town where the hostages were freed by the raid.

Palestinians walk through the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip in Gaza City last weekend. Picture: AP Photo/Mohammed Hajjar

China has joined growing international calls for Israel to halt military operations in Gaza following a raid in which two hostages were rescued and scores of Palestinians killed.

The foreign ministry in Beijing added in a brief statement on Tuesday that Israel should “do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah”.