CHINA is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and calls on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said yesterday.

The spokesperson made the remarks in response to the fierce conflicts between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip that have caused massive casualties on both sides.

The spokesperson said the recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot last. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine.

On Saturday morning, Hamas, the ruler of the Gaza Strip, launched a sudden military operation against Israel, firing thousands of rockets at Israeli cities.

In addition, dozens of its militants infiltrated Israeli towns adjacent to the coastal enclave and opened fires at Israeli settlers, killing hundreds of them and capturing others.

Mohammed al-Deif, a leader from Hamas, announced Saturday the beginning of a new military operation the “Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israel.

Two hours after the attack began, the Israeli air force launched airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip, declaring that it was “on alert for war.” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the drafting of reserve soldiers to the military.

Accusing Hamas of being behind the attack, the Israeli military said in a statement that the Palestinian movement “will bear the results and responsibility for the events.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to retaliate firmly against the rocket and infiltrating attack by Hamas, which has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded.

In a televised address Saturday evening, the Israeli leader described the day as a grim moment in Israeli history and said his country would “take revenge” and “defeat” the Hamas militants.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held phone talks Saturday during which they discussed regional and international efforts to contain the ongoing deadly Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“The call touched on consultation and coordination regarding efforts to stop the current escalation in the Gaza Strip between the Palestinians and Israelis,” said the Egyptian presidency in a statement.

Sisi and Macron expressed “deep concern” over the dangerous deterioration of the situation, stressing the need for intensified international and regional efforts to stop the ongoing violence.

Sudan on Saturday voiced support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in response to the developments in the Palestinian territories.

“Sudan renews its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in their independent state and calls for commitment to the decisions of the international legitimacy and the protection of innocent civilians,” the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua)