UPDATE - Chinese envoy to visit Mideast to push for cease-fire

UPDATES WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER'S PHONE CALL WITH SAUDI COUNTERPART, CHANGES DECK

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - China's special Mideast envoy will visit the region this week to push for a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas and promote peace talks, state media reported on Sunday.

"Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East … to coordinate with various parties for a cease-fire, to protect civilians, ease the situation, and promote peace talks,” state-run CCTV reported.

Not traditionally a strong player in the Middle East, China made waves this March when it brokered a deal reestablishing ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The development came as Israel appears poised for a ground offensive in Gaza amid an evacuation order from the north Gaza Strip to the south.

The Israeli army on Friday ordered all residents of northern Gaza to evacuate their homes and head south, despite warnings that it would lead to an international humanitarian disaster.

- 'Israel should heed the international community’

Separately, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke in a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud about the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"Israel's actions have gone beyond self-defense and it should heed the call of the international community and the United Nations secretary general to stop its collective punishment of the people in Gaza," Wang was quoted as saying by Beijing-based Xinhua News.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, said all parties should refrain from any actions that escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

Last weekend, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign on the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel – a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has endured a crippling siege since 2007.