BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- China's envoy to the Middle East said on Friday that it is still possible to peacefully settle the Palestine-Israel hostage crisis.

    "There is a glimmer of hope for the hostage issue to be tackled peacefully as long as the hostage is alive," said China's Middle East envoy Sun Bigan, who on Friday gave a briefing on his just-concluded visit to Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Palestine.

    "Attempting to resolve the crisis through military attacks will never work," said Sun, who has acted as China's Middle East envoy since April.

    China opposes kidnapping and assassination, Sun said. "China has urged Palestine to ensure the safety of the hostage and release him as soon as possible."

    During his Middle East trip, Sun also urged Israel to exercise calm and restraint and not to escalate the situation.

    Palestinian militants kidnapped 19-year-old Corporal Gilad Shalit on June 25 during a deadly attack on an Israeli army post near the Gaza border, sparking the latest crisis between the Israel and Palestine.

    Israel launched operation "Summer Rain" on June 28 after two days of international mediation failed to secure the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit.

    In the wake of the raid, Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip in the largest incursion into the coastal area since Israel pulled out forces and settlers last summer following a 38-year occupation.

    Israel had closed Gaza's borders and sent tanks, troops and aircraft to the Gaza Strip over the past few days in a bid to press Palestinian militants to free the Israeli soldier.

    The Palestinian militants have demanded that Israel release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for prisoners held by Israel. They have set Tuesday as the deadline.

    Israel has rejected the ultimatum, saying it would not give in to blackmail. Enditem

¡¡¡¡Related: Annan warns of explosive situation in Middle East

    UNITED NATIONS, July 5 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned on Wednesday that the situation in the Middle East could be explosive, and urged the parties in the region to avert further escalation.

    In a statement released here by his spokesman, Annan, who is on a visit visit in Ghana, once again condemned the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel, such as the one which struck a school in the town of Ashkelon on Tuesday.

    He also called again on the Israeli government to refrain from actions that amount to collective punishment of Palestinian civilians, and to ensure delivery of fuel, commodities and other essentials into Gaza.

    The secretary-general again reminded the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority of their obligations under international humanitarian law regarding the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and called for the immediate release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

    "The situation is dangerous and could be explosive," Annan said, urging all parties concerned to step back from the brink.

    It is reported that Palestinian militants fired two more rockets at Israeli southern coastal city Ashkelon Wednesday evening, following the first such attack on Tuesday. Enditem 

    Israeli action to free hostage must spare civilians: Russian FM

    MOSCOW, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged Israel on Wednesday to avoid harming the lives of Palestinian civilians in its action to free an captive Israeli soldier.

    Lavrov had a follow-up discussion of the situation in Palestinian territories over the phone with his Israeli counterpart, Tzipi Livni, who visited Moscow two days ago, the Foreign Ministry said.

    "Lavrov confirmed Russia is working to end the confrontation and -- as a priority task -- to gain the release of the Israeli serviceman who has been captured," the ministry said in a statement.

    "Meanwhile, it was stressed that Israel should act with utmost restraint and circumspection, without endangering the lives and security of Palestinian civilians and resorting to extra judicial punishment," it said.

    Palestinian militants kidnapped the 19-year-old Corporal Gilad Shalit on June 25 during a deadly attack on an Israeli army post near the Gaza border, sparking the latest crisis between the Israelis and Palestinians.

    In the wake of the raid, Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip in the largest incursion into the coastal area since Israel pulled out forces and settlers last summer following a 38-year occupation.

    After meeting Livni on Monday, Lavrov urged Palestinians militants to free the Israeli soldier and called on Israel to exercise restraint in its military operations in the Gaza Strip. Enditem

    Jordan condemns Israeli military operation in Gaza Strip

    AMMAN, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian King Abdullah II on Friday strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.

    During a phone talk with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the king said that such an operation will not bring about security and stability to anyone, and only innocent Palestinian people, who are suffering every day, will pay for that.

    The king called for ending cycle of violence and returning to the negotiating table, saying that negotiation is the only way to achieve peace in the region and solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

    For his part, Abbas briefed the king on the situation in the Gaza Strip, while urging the international community to pressurize Israel to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people.

    Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said on Friday that some 40 Palestinian militants had been killed since the army started a major ground operation in the Gaza Strip on June 28.

    The Israeli army has expanded its ground operation in the strip to rescue an Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinian militants on June 25 and stop Palestinian rocket firing. Enditem

    Iran denounces Israeli operation in Gaza Strip

    TEHRAN, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday denounced the ongoing Israeli offensives against the Gaza Strip, saying that such actions could cause an "explosion" in the Islamic world.

    Meanwhile, top cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati on Friday expressed his indignation on Israeli strikes against Palestinians, saying that Israel was exploiting international public attention on the World Cup to commit "despicable behaviors" in the Gaza Strip.

    "When people were focusing their attentions to the World Cup, they are doing despicable behaviors to Palestinians," he said in his Friday prayers sermon to worshipers on Tehran University campus.

    Jannati is the head of the powerful Guardian Council, a constitutional intercessory organ between the government and the Majlis (parliament).

    Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said on Friday that some 40 Palestinian militants had been killed since the army started a major ground operation in the Gaza Strip on June 28.The Israeli army has expanded its ground operation in the strip to rescue an Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinian militants on June 25 and stop Palestinian rocket firing. Enditem