China intends to cooperate with Egypt on Israel-Hamas conflict

China is seeking to work with Egypt in order to help ease the Israel-Hamas war, erupted after a deadly attack by the Palestinian militant group, positioning itself as mediator in Middle East.

China’s Middle East envoy Zhai Jun spoke by phone on Tuesday with Egypt’s assistant minister for the Palestinian territories, according to a readout of the conversation published by Egypt. He urged „the international community to form a joint force and provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people.”

In Israel, the death toll rose on Wednesday to 1,200 people, most of them civilians. In the same time, in Gaza, officials have reported more than 900 people killed as Israel pounded the territory with air strikes.

Since the assault, Egypt has intensified its actions for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.

Egypt has historically been a key mediator between Israel ant the Palestinians, and was the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. It has, alongside Israel, jointly blockaded the Gaza Strip since 2007.