Hamas and Israel issued statements on Saturday, blaming each other for violating the current ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
According to Gaza-based health authorities, the Israel Defense Forces attacked multiple locations in Gaza on Saturday, resulting in at least 24 deaths and 54 injuries, with many in critical condition.
According to the Palestinian official news agency on Saturday, the Israeli forces launched an airstrike on a vehicle in northern Gaza on the day's afternoon, killing at least five people.
Furthermore, in the Nuseirat refugee camp and Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, Israeli airstrikes hit two residential buildings, killing at least five people, including children, and injuring others.
The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday that during a 24-hour military operation in Rafah, southern Gaza, they killed or captured 17 militants attempting to flee underground facilities.
Hamas on Saturday issued a statement, strongly condemning Israel's continued violation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and urging international mediators to immediately intervene to stop Israel's attempts to undermine the truce process.
The statement noted that since the ceasefire took effect on Oct 10, Israeli forces have continued airstrikes and artillery attacks in eastern Gaza, repeatedly pushing the "yellow line", the agreed Israeli deployment line, westward, constituting flagrant violations of the agreement.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office also said on the same day that Hamas violated the ceasefire by sending a militant into Israeli-controlled territory to attack soldiers, and in response, Israel killed five senior Hamas militants.
The statement also called on relevant mediators to demand Hamas fulfill its commitments under the ceasefire agreement.
The cumulative death toll in Gaza Strip has reached 69,733, with 170,863 others wounded since the latest round of the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct 7, 2023, according to the Gaza-based health authorities.
Israel, Hamas accuse each other of violating ceasefire agreement
Israel, Hamas accuse each other of violating ceasefire agreement
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the Middle East tensions are in the common interests of all parties.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.
During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on current international issues and regional conflicts.
Wang welcomed the visit of the Pakistani side to Beijing for discussion on easing tensions in the Middle East, just after its holding of a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad.
He said China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. This process is no easy task, and Pakistan's mediation efforts are in line with the common interests of all parties, Wang added.
He noted China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.
On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people's hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Dar thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.
Noting that solutions can only be found through negotiation, Dar said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to push all parties to start peace talks as soon as possible and restore regional peace.
The two sides also put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region:
I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
