ISTANBUL

China on Monday called on the international community to stop the tragedy in Gaza as Israel continues its attacks on the Palestinian enclave.

“The disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza is calling out to the human conscience, and the international community should not let the tragedy continue,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing.

Beijing’s reaction came after Israeli forces attacked an ambulance convoy in Gaza on Friday, state media reported.

The death toll from Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip has risen to 9,770, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave announced on Sunday.

The slain include 4,800 children and 2,550 women.

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

Besides the large number of casualties and massive displacements of people, basic supplies are running low for the 2.3 million residents in Gaza due to the Israeli siege.