China strongly urged Israel on Sunday to immediately cease military operations against Palestine to avoid further escalation of the tense regional situation.

China expressed serious concern about the latest bloody clashes in the northern Gaza Strip that have caused many Palestinian civilian casualties.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan made the remarks when asked to comment on the current situation between Israel and Palestine.

Israel launched the operation of "Days of Penitence" after the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) fired rockets on Wednesday, killing two Israeli preschoolers in the southern Negev town of Sderot.

So far, at least 50 people have died in the clashes, including five Israeli soldiers.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 4, 2004)