Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed that Moscow sees it as a top priority to get the parties in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone to cease fire.
“We consider it necessary to take urgent measures to reach an immediate ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors to avoid new casualties, and provide necessary assistance to the affected civilians,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov pointed out that Russia calls for intensifying efforts to create conditions to immediately resume the negotiation process between Israel and Palestine.
His remarks came at a press conference following talks with his Kuwaiti counterpart Salem Abdullah al-Jaber al-Sabah.
“It is clear that it is difficult to do this at the moment, but as soon as we achieve a ceasefire, it is necessary to come back to resuming direct negotiations to establish a Palestinian state, as stipulated by the UN Security Council’s decision, within the 1967 borders, which would coexist in peace and security with Israel,” the top diplomat pointed out.
In recent remarks, Lavrov expressed strong criticism of Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, stating that it violates international law and poses the risk of creating a long-lasting catastrophe.
In an interview with the Belarusian state news agency Belta, Lavrov conveyed Moscow’s disapproval, marking some of Russia’s most critical comments on Israel to date.
The Russian official emphasized the condemnation of terrorism but firmly disagreed with responding to it by violating international humanitarian law. He specifically pointed out the indiscriminate use of force against targets where civilians, including hostages, are known to be present.
Calling for an immediate halt to the actions and the announcement of humanitarian programs to aid the population under blockade, the Russian minister urged a reconsideration of the current approach.
The Israeli aggression had resulted in the destruction of 221 educational institutions, 34,000 residential units, and 35 hospitals rendered non-operational, with 55% of the healthcare sector ceasing to function.
