UNITED NATIONS - A Chinese envoy on Sunday expressed grave concern over Israel's plan to take over Gaza City, saying any attempt to take over parts of the Palestinian territory must be firmly opposed.

The approval by Israel's Security Cabinet of a plan to take over Gaza City is "a matter of grave concern," China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong, said at a rare emergency weekend meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue held by the UN Security Council, urging Israel to "stop this dangerous move at once."

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"Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people. It is an integral part of the Palestinian territory. Any action that seeks to alter its demographic and territorial structure must be met with utmost rejection and resistance," Fu stressed.

Fu said that military means are not the way to resolve the long-standing conflict, and an immediate ceasefire is the only right way to save lives and secure the release of hostages. He called on the Israeli government to listen to the calls of the international community and its own people, immediately stop escalating tensions, and end its military operations in Gaza.

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"The countries with significant influence over the parties must uphold a just and responsible stance and take concrete steps to push forward a ceasefire," he added.

Fu also urged Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law as an occupying power; open all border crossings; lift restrictions on aid access; ensure large-scale, swift, and safe entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza; and support the United Nations in its aid delivery under humanitarian principles.

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Fu called implementing the two-state solution "the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question and achieving the peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel." He urged the international community to "redouble efforts to advance the political process of the two-state solution and jointly counter any unilateral move that sabotages its foundation."

China stands ready to work alongside the world to advance an end to the war in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, and implement the two-state solution to ultimately achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question, said Fu.

At the meeting, Israel's Gaza takeover plan sparked widespread outcry and condemnation from most of the Security Council members.