Abbas sends envoy to China over Gaza conflict

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sent an envoy to China to brief the Chinese side on the Israeli aerial offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has entered the eighth day, a Palestinian official said Wednesday.

Bassam al-Salhi, Secretary-General of the People Party, told Xinhua that he carried a message from Abbas to the Chinese officials "to intervene in stopping the Israeli aggression on Gaza immediately, given their weight on the international level."

Al-Salahi, who headed for Jordan Wednesday on his way to Beijing, said the message also talks about "coordinating the attitudes" in the United Nations Security Council to issue a resolution "condemning the aggression."

"We are aware that the United States will press relevant sides not to issue the resolution, but we count on China for its weight that is parallel to that of the America," he added.

The Israeli military operations have killed 147 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,000 so far. In return, five Israelis were killed in rockets fired by militant groups from Gaza.

Egypt, Turkey and the United States exert diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and the militant groups in Gaza led by Islamic Hamas movement. There have been reports of progress, but a ceasefire deal has yet to be finalized.

Abbas's message to China also explains the Palestinian bid for a non-member state in the United Nations. The Palestinians would submit their status upgrade request on Nov. 29 despite U.S. opposition.