Israel's actions in Gaza have gone "beyond the scope of self-defence" and the Israeli government must "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza", Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in remarks published on Sunday.

Wang's remarks, made on a call to his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, came as Israel appeared poised for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza.

"Israel's actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense," Wang said according to a Foreign Ministry readout.

"It should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza," he added in the strongest stance China has expressed so far on the conflict.

Wang told Prince Faisal that "all parties should not take any action to escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible".

In a later call with the Iranian foreign minister, Wang said China supports the "just cause of the Palestinian people in safeguarding their national rights".

"The root cause... of the Palestine-Israel situation is that the Palestinian people's right to statehood has been set aside for a long time," Wang told Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, according to an official readout from the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.

Israel pressed on Sunday with preparations for a ground offensive in Gaza.

The military said Gaza City residents must not delay their departure but a spokesperson said late on Saturday they still had time to leave ahead of the ground offensive.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a flak jacket, earlier visited troops on the border front line, raising expectations of an imminent invasion. "Are you ready for what is coming? More is coming," he was heard telling several soldiers on a video released by his office.

Since Friday thousands of Gazans, who cannot leave the enclave as it is blockaded by both Israel and Egypt, have packed what belongings they can into bags and suitcases, to trudge through the rubble-strewn streets.

A stream of cars, trucks, three-wheeled vehicles and donkey-drawn carts joined the frantic mass movement south, all loaded with families and their belongings, mattresses, bedding and bags strapped onto the roofs of packed vehicles. (AFP)
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Last updated: 2023-10-15 HKT 21:24