Beijing: China on Wednesday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as Israeli forces call up thousands of reserve soldiers for a planned occupation of Gaza City. ‘China closely follows the situation in Gaza,’ Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference in Beijing. Beijing ‘hopes that all parties will reach the ceasefire agreement as soon as possible to promote the de-escalation and earnestly relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,’ Mao added.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli army has issued emergency draft orders to reservists in preparation for an operation to occupy Gaza City. Israel’s preparations continue despite indirect ceasefire talks with the Palestinian group Hamas, which has agreed to a 60-day suspension of military operations under the proposal presented by Egypt and Qatar.

Israel has continued its military operations in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, resulting in more than 62,000 deaths, devastating the enclave, and creating food shortages that have led to deaths by starvation. There have been two truces in the war earlier, during which Israeli hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.