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China urges Israel to 'stop attacking Rafah'
China on Tuesday urged Israel to "stop attacking Rafah", after the Israeli army said it took "operational control"of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
"China... strongly calls on Israel to heed the overwhelming demands of theinternational community, stop attacking Rafah, and do everything it can toavoid a more serious humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip," Chineseforeign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
Israel carried out strikes on the Gazan city of Rafah overnight as it soughtto put "pressure" on Hamas ahead of talks in Egypt on Tuesday aimed atsealing a truce proposal endorsed by the militants, reports BSS.
After having vowed for weeks to push into the southern border town, Israelcalled on Monday for Palestinians in eastern Rafah to leave for an "expandedhumanitarian area" ahead of a ground incursion.
An AFP correspondent in the city reported heavy bombardment throughout thenight, while the Kuwaiti hospital there said Tuesday in an updated toll that11 people had been killed and dozens of others injured in Israeli strikes.
Israel's army then said Tuesday ground troops were carrying out an operationin eastern Rafah.
Beijing on Tuesday said China "expresses grave concern over Israel's plannedlaunch of a ground military operation against Rafah".
"War and violence cannot fundamentally solve the problem and cannot bringabout true security," Lin said.