Windhoek: A Chinese envoy on Tuesday warned against possible Israeli occupation of the entire Gaza Strip. Recent media reports indicate that Israel has decided to escalate its military offensive and fully occupy Gaza. China expresses its grave concern about this, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Geng Shuang urged Israel to immediately halt such dangerous actions and called for all parties to quickly reach a binding and sustainable ceasefire agreement. He emphasized the importance of countries with significant influence acting justly and responsibly to facilitate a ceasefire.

Israel's military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 civilians in Gaza, with innocent lives still being lost daily. Geng stated that military means are not a solution and that an immediate ceasefire is needed to save lives and bring hostages home.

He further highlighted that the 2 million civilians in Gaza should not suffer as victims of war or endure further hardships from manmade disasters. The ongoing blockade and siege have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leading to severe famine, Geng noted.

Geng urged that restricting humanitarian access will worsen the collective punishment of Gaza's people and hinder the provision of life-saving supplies to surviving hostages. He called on Israel to comply with international law, restore humanitarian access, and support agencies like the United Nations in delivering aid.

He also stressed that implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent state of Palestine is the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question and preventing future hostage crises. The international community should oppose unilateral actions that undermine the two-state solution and work to advance the political process toward its realization.

China, Geng assured, will continue collaborating with the international community to end the conflict in Gaza, alleviate humanitarian suffering, and achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian question.