China will offer 1 million U.S. dollars cash in emergency humanitarian aid for the Palestinian National Authority to buy urgently needed material, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

China once again urged an immediate halt to military conflict by all parties concerned to alleviate tensions in the region as soon as possible. Qin also called on all parties concerned to take concrete measures to ease humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.

About 360 people have been killed and 1,600 others injured by Israel's air strikes on the Gaza Strip since Saturday.

China voiced concerns over the escalation of tension in the region immediately following the strikes, condemning any move that leads to civilian casualties, opposing solving disputes by force and calling on the parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint to resolve disputes through dialogue.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2008)