Israeli aircraft dealt numerous strikes at various targets in the Gaza Strip on the morning of December 27. According to incoming reports, the number of killed Palestinians is already about 120, with more than 200 injured.

Moscow considers it necessary to immediately stop the large-scale military actions against the Gaza Strip that have already led to significant casualties and suffering among the Palestinian civilian population. At the same time we call on the Hamas leadership to end rocket attacks on Israeli territory. We are convinced that the most urgent thing now is to stop the armed confrontation, restore the lull and release civilians on both sides from horror and pain.

Russia will in different formats continue its persistent efforts to break the vicious circle of violence as an indispensable condition for solving the existing problems by negotiation.

December 27, 2008