Smoke rises during an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential tower in Gaza City, on Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Three Chinese were injured in attacks, with one shot in the abdomen and one in the leg, and another found in a hospital with a serious injury, amid the sudden escalation of tensions between Israel and Palestine, the Global Times learned from the Israel China Chamber of Commerce on Sunday. 

The three wounded persons are under medical treatment and their lives are not in danger at the moment.

In addition, four Chinese citizens are reportedly missing while the Chinese Embassy in Israel and local Chinese companies and communities are ramping up measures to look for them.

The situation in the region has suddenly escalated lately. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured there due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the death toll among Israelis has surpassed 200, marking it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.

A person with the Israel China Chamber of Commerce told the Global Times on Sunday on condition of anonymity that "yesterday, one employee from Beijing Construction Engineering Group reportedly went missing, and today, three more have been added."

The situation on the ground there may have some impact on local Chinese enterprises, and they are currently tallying their personnel, according to the person. The Chinese Embassy in Israel is conducting a personnel count too.

Many places in Israel were attacked by rockets and armed personnel on Saturday. In response to the escalating situation, the Chinese Embassy in Israel issued an emergency notice on Saturday calling on Chinese citizens to pay close attention to the development of local situation.

"At present, the relevant situation is still developing. The Chinese Embassy in Israel hereby reminds Chinese citizens in Israel to pay close attention to local security situation, enhance their security awareness, implement security precautions and ensure safety," the Embassy said in a notice.

"I've been in Israel for seven to eight years and have never encountered such a serious situation, nor have I seen so many casualties before," the person with the Chinese chamber told the Global Times. 

She noted that she lives near the Ben Gurion International Airport and heard continuous explosions last night, which prompted her to move to a specially designed room for shelter.

Despite the tensions, Israeli government has not imposed any mandatory stay-at-home orders or work stoppages, "but, some businesses may temporarily suspend operations due to security concerns," she said.

China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and calls on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.