China has called on Israel to halt its military operations in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, according to a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The Chinese spokesperson, as reported by the China Global Television Network (CGTN) in its English-language bulletin on Tuesday, said, “We call on Israel to stop military operations as soon as possible, and to do everything in its power to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and to prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.”
The spokesperson added that Beijing opposes and condemns acts committed against civilians and international law.
Earlier, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, expressed concern about the attack being carried out by the Israeli occupation army on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, stating, “We will pursue any party that violates international laws.”
In a statement posted on the social media platform (X), reported by the American channel “Al-Hurra” on Tuesday, Khan said that his office’s investigation into Gaza “is proceeding as a matter of urgency.. I am deeply concerned about the information on bombing and a possible ground assault by Israeli forces on Rafah.”
Khan had previously announced that the investigation is currently “expanding to include the escalation in hostilities and violence since the attacks that took place on October 7, 2023. The Prosecutor stated, “All wars have rules, and the laws applicable to armed conflict cannot be interpreted in a way that renders them hollow and devoid of meaning.”
Khan reiterated that “those who do not comply with the law have no right to complain later when my office takes measures according to its mandate… My office is actively investigating any suspected crimes committed, those who violate the law will be held accountable.”
The International Criminal Court had opened an investigation in 2021 into possible war crimes in Gaza involving Israel and Palestinian factions.
