CHINA BACKS EGYPT`S TRUCE PLAN FOR GAZA

Tham Choy Lin
BEIJING, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- China backs an Egyptian-proposed truce plan for
a ceasefire in Gaza which has suffered massive loss of lives and damage in more
than a week of military fighting between Israel and Hamas.

"China welcomes this proposal. We hope with the joint efforts of the
international community, we can put an end to the conflict, resume negotiations
and continue to push forward the peace process in the Middle East and properly
handle the Palestine-Israel issue in a comprehensive way," Foreign Ministry
spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular news briefing.

China urged the international community to intensify mediation efforts and
hoped "relevant parties could listen to the appeal of the international
community" to stop the conflict, the spokesman added.

He said an immediate ceasefire was imperative to halt the escalating
violence and to ease the humanitarian situation on the group by allowing aid
into Gaza.

Both Israel and Hamas, which rules Gaza, are reported to be studying the
truce proposal.
-- BERNAMA