BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes and condemns the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and is deeply concerned that the incident may plunge the region into greater turmoil, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, calling for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on the impact of the killing of Haniyeh on the Chinese peace effort in the Middle East and on the recently signed Beijing Declaration mediated by China.

There should be no more escalation of the conflict and confrontation, he said.

China supports Palestine's internal reconciliation and believes this is an important step toward solving the Palestinian question and realizing peace and stability in the Middle East, he said.

"China commends Palestinian factions for their effort on the Beijing Declaration, and looks forward to the day when Palestinian factions achieve reconciliation and, on that basis, realize independent statehood as early as possible," Lin said, adding that China will continue to work with relevant parties toward that goal.

Lin said that the more daunting the situation is in the Middle East, the more critical it is for the international community to try to cool down the situation and enable de-escalation. "China remains committed to keeping the Middle East peaceful and stable, and opposes external interference. We stand ready to work with relevant parties to work hard for lasting peace and security in the region," he said.