Moscow: The Russian Foreign Ministry affirmed that the Israeli decision to expand its operations in the Gaza Strip will exacerbate the situation in the Strip, which bears all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today: “The implementation of such condemned and rejected decisions and plans threatens to exacerbate the already tragic situation in the Gaza Strip, which bears the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe,” noting that “this will significantly complicate international efforts to de-escalate the conflict, with dire consequences for the entire Middle East region.”

The statement noted that “Russia affirmed its firm position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages and detainees, and is fully convinced that there is no alternative to resolving the Palestinian issue on the basis of recognized international law and the two-state principle, which stipulates the establis
hment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Quds as its capital.”