China and Russia harden positions on Gaza as war stirs geopolitical tensions

Conflict highlights growing gulf with west, as other big developing powers face difficult diplomatic choices

• Israel and Hamas at war – live updates

China and Russia have hardened their positions towards the conflict in Gaza in recent days, as the war between Israel and Hamas aggravates existing geopolitical tensions and underscores the growing gulf between the cold war allies and western powers such as the US, UK and France.

The Chinese foreign minister said over the weekend that Israel’s bombing campaign had gone “beyond the scope of self-defence” and that it “should stop collective punishment of the people of Gaza”.