ANKARA

China on Friday expressed "serious concern" over the Israeli decision to occupy Gaza and urged Israel to immediately cease its "dangerous actions."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inalienable part of the Palestinian territory.

"An immediate ceasefire is the correct way to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. A ceasefire is also the key to a complete resolution of the Gaza conflict," he said, adding that only this can pave the way for de-escalating the conflict and safeguarding regional security.

Beijing reiterated its support for the two-state solution and expressed readiness to work with the international community to end the fighting, de-escalate tensions, and pursue a “comprehensive, just, and lasting” settlement to the Palestinian issue.

According to Israeli Premier Netanyahu's office, Israeli forces will prepare to occupy Gaza City. The latest satellite imagery reveals that the Israeli military is amassing troops and equipment near the Gaza border, potentially in preparation for a new ground invasion of the Palestinian territory.

Israeli ground operations in Gaza have been ongoing since October 2023, with interruptions during two ceasefires.

The Israeli Security Cabinet also approved five key principles for concluding the war: dismantling the Palestinian group Hamas, securing the return of all hostages—both alive and deceased—demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, ensuring Israeli security control over the area, and establishing a civilian government not led by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

This new operation by Israel, expected to last at least six months, comes despite Tel Aviv facing mounting outrage over its destructive war on Gaza, where more than 61,200 people have been killed since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid