China says it's against Gaza City takeover plan
The Foreign Ministry says "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory." File photo: RTHK
China on Friday expressed "serious concerns" over Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City, urging it to "immediately cease its dangerous actions".
"Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson told AFP.
Turkey urged the international community to prevent Israel's plan, describing it a "heavy blow" to peace and security.
"We call on the international community to fulfil its responsibilities to prevent the implementation of this decision, which aims to forcibly displace Palestinians from their own land," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Israel to reconsider the plan, which he branded as "wrong".
"This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages," he said, warning that it "will only bring more bloodshed".
Last week, Starmer pledged the UK would formally recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes "substantive steps", including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said "the Israeli Government's plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted".
"It runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realisation of the agreed two-State solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination," he said in a statement.
Israel early on Friday announced plans to take over Gaza City in another escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas.
The decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government came after multiple failed attempts to mediate a ceasefire and amid a rising international outcry over images of starving Palestinian children underlining a deepening humanitarian disaster in the shattered enclave. (Agencies)
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