Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s comment on the escalation of tensions around the Gaza Strip

Moscow is gravely concerned about a new round of armed violence in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

This round of escalation was triggered by Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip on August 5, in response to which Palestinian groups began massive indiscriminate shelling of Israeli territory. According to reports, 10 Palestinians were killed and more than 80 injured as a result of the Israeli attacks.

We view these developments with deep concern. They can lead to a resumption of full-scale military confrontation and a further deterioration of the already deplorable humanitarian situation in Gaza.

We call on all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint, prevent an escalation of armed hostilities and return to a sustainable ceasefire without delay.

We reaffirm Russia's principled and consistent position, reflected in the relevant UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, in support of a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the two-state principle. We note once again that the cyclical violence can end only through a negotiating process which should result in the realisation of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state based on the 1967 borders.