Shoukry, Arab ministers press for ceasefire in Beijing: China’s top diplomat yesterday reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during talks with a delegation of Arab and Muslim officials in Beijing, calling it a “matter of life and death” for the Palestinian people. China is “firmly on the side” of Arab and Islamic countries in the conflict, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the multi-country delegation, according to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, as well as the chief diplomats from Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, were all part of the talks.

No displacement, no collective punishment, says China: “China opposes any forced displacement and relocation of Palestinian civilians. Israel should stop its collective punishment of the people in Gaza and open humanitarian corridors as soon as possible to prevent a wider humanitarian disaster,” the readout said.

The first stop on a global tour: The delegation is embarking on a tour of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in a bid to press for a ceasefire. Ministers are in Moscow today for talks with Russian officials. Visits to France, the UK and the US will follow.

Remember: The US and the UK have refused to back a ceasefire at the Security Council in favor of allowing Israel to continue its devastating military campaign. The two countries abstained on a resolution put forward by Malta last week that called for “urgent humanitarian pauses” instead of a ceasefire.

ON THE GROUND-

Another hospital under siege: Israeli forces are closing in on the Indonesian Hospital to the east of Gaza City, a few days after raiding the Al Shifa complex and forcing out most of the patients and medical staff. At least 12 people — including patients — were reported dead and dozens wounded in an Israeli strike at the hospital yesterday. The Israeli military, whose tanks are said to be surrounding the hospital, claimed it was targeting “terrorists” inside the building. The head of the World Health Organization said he was “appalled” at the attack. Two hundred patients were evacuated, but 400 hundred remain inside, along with 2k refugees.

Also: Twenty-eight of 31 premature babies transferred to Egypt hospitals from Gaza | UNRWA: Refugee shelters “unliveable” due to heavy rain.

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