Israeli embassy worker stabbed in China by foreign national, authorities say

A plainclothes security guard stands watch outside the Israeli Embassy in Beijing. The embassy was the site of a violent stabbing on Friday when a foreign national attacked a family member of an Israeli diplomat. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

An Israeli embassy employee was stabbed outside his workplace in China on Friday, according to Chinese and Israeli authorities. 

The 50-year-old man, described as a family member of an Israeli diplomat, was attacked upon exiting the Beijing embassy.

"The employee was transferred to hospital and he is in a stable condition," the Israeli government said in a statement.

Beijing police have arrested a suspect in the stabbing, whom they describe as a 53-year-old foreigner. 

China has been tepid in taking sides following the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel.

Israeli officials complained that there was "no clear and unequivocal condemnation of the terrible massacre committed by the terrorist organization Hamas against innocent civilians and the abduction of dozens of them to Gaza."

The Israeli statement continued, "The Chinese announcements do not contain any element of Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens, a fundamental right of any sovereign country that was attacked in an unprecedented manner and with cruelty that has no place in human society."

China gave little ground in response to Israel's complaints, offering a simple reaffirmation towards de-escalation and peace in the region.

"China will continue to work unremittingly for de-escalation of the situation and the resumption of peace talks," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.