ANKARA

China on Thursday voiced concern over Israel’s escalations in the occupied West Bank, saying it opposes actions that fuel tensions.

"We are deeply concerned about the escalation in the West Bank. China opposes actions that fuel tensions, and condemns all attacks on civilians," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, in response to a question by Anadolu during a news briefing in Beijing.

Commenting on the latest developments with over 10-month-long conflict spilling from Gaza to the West Bank, Jian called upon all the parties concerned, Israel in particular, to "remain calm and exercise restraint, and prevent further escalation and deterioration of the situation."

China is closely following the current situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, he added.

On Wednesday, the Israeli army launched a major military operation in the northern West Bank, the largest in two decades, killing 17 Palestinians, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in more than 40,600 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 93,800 injuries, according to local health authorities.


An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.