Official statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

"In Moscow, there is grave concern about the sharp escalation of the situation in the area of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.


In this regard, we reaffirm our principled and consistent position that this conflict, which has lasted for 75 years, has no military solution and can only be settled by political and diplomatic means, through the establishment of a full-fledged negotiation process based on the known international legal foundation. This foundation envisions the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem, living in peace and security alongside Israel.

We view the current large-scale escalation as another highly dangerous manifestation of the vicious cycle of violence, which is a direct consequence of the chronic non-fulfillment of the relevant UN resolutions and its Security Council and the actual blocking by the West of the work of the Middle Eastern 'Quartet' of international mediators consisting of Russia, the USA, the EU, and the UN.

We urge both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to immediately cease fire, refrain from violence, show necessary restraint, and, with the assistance of the international community, establish a negotiation process aimed at achieving a comprehensive, lasting, and long-awaited peace in the Middle East."