China has urged Israel to stop its military operation in the Gazan city of Rafah “as soon as possible”, warning of a “serious humanitarian disaster” there if fighting did not stop, AFP reports.

“China […] opposes and condemns actions that harm civilians and violate international law,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement, adding it urged Israel to “stop its military operation as soon as possible, make every effort to avoid innocent civilian casualties […] to prevent a more serious humanitarian disaster in the Rafah area”.