Israel-Palestine War: China's Middle East envoy to visit region next week

China’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Zhai Jun will visit the region next week amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine. According to state media CGTN, Jun said that he would promote peace talks between Israel and Palestine during his trip. On Saturday, Jun held an emergency meeting with senior members of the Arab League in China to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He said that Beijing supports the Arab League which is playing an important role in the “Palestinian issue” and that it will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. “The international community should earnestly enhance its sense of urgency to return to the correct basis of the two-state solution to realise the peaceful coexistence of the two states of Palestine and Israel,” Zhai said, according to the statement. Ceasefire in southern Gaza? On Monday, a report by Reuters quoting two Egyptian officials said that Israel, Egypt and the US have agreed to halt fire from 0600 GMT (11:30 am IST). However, Israel later denied reports that it has agreed to any ceasefire for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and also said it has no plans to open the Rafah border crossing. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said: “At the moment there is no ceasefire for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and the exit of foreigners.” It further denied any arrangements for the opening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.