China's Wang urges peace in calls with Israeli, Palestinian counterparts

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told his Israeli counterpart that Beijing was "Deeply saddened" by the large number of civilian deaths in the escalating Israel-Hamas war and urged steps to prevent a further escalation in violence and establish a lasting peace. The conflict, which erupted on October 7, represented a "Major choice between war and peace", Wang told Eli Cohen in a phone conversation, China's state media reported on Tuesday. China has condemned the conflict that began after the Hamas armed group launched a surprise attack on Israel that killed at least 1,400 people. Wang told Cohen that China was "Deeply concerned about the continued escalation of the conflict and the worsening situation, and deeply saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict," according to the Xinhua news agency. China has sought to position itself as a peacemaker in the conflict, and its special envoy to the Middle East Zhai Jun is currently on a tour of the region. Wang also spoke on the phone with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, voicing his concern and sympathy for the large number of civilians killed in Gaza, and the urgent need to stop the war. During his phone calls, Wang called for greater international cooperation to end the crisis and seek a lasting solution to the conflict.