Chinese envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East next week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks, state broadcaster CCTV reported Sunday. Zhai will be coordinating with various parties to protect civilians, ease the situation, and facilitate peace talks. This comes at a time when Israel is preparing for a potential ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza, prompting concern over the broadening and outward spillover of the conflict. Chinese officials have called for the United States to play a constructive role and urged the convening of an international peace meeting.