Foreign ministry repeats call for a comprehensive, permanent ceasefire in Gaza to avoid further escalation of the conflict.
Beijing has strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a strike in Tehran, warning that the killing could plunge the region into deeper chaos a week after China helped to broker a Palestinian unity deal.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday that Beijing strongly opposed the assassination of Haniyeh.
“China has always advocated resolving regional disputes through negotiation and dialogue,” Lin said, adding that Beijing was “deeply concerned” that the incident could lead to further turmoil in the region.
He also repeated a call for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza to avoid further escalation of the conflict.
Hamas said on Wednesday that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he had been attending the inauguration of the country’s new president.
Haniyeh’s death is a major setback for Hamas and casts a shadow over future negotiations with Israel, as tensions escalate across the Middle East due to the devastating war in Gaza.
