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| Image Source: Al-Jazeera |
Russia's comments come at a time when Hamas is trying to find eight Russian-Israeli citizens held hostage during an attack on Israel.
Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Israel's bombing of Gaza is against
international law and threatens a catastrophe that could last for decades.
Lavrov gave the
interview, one of Moscow's most critical of Israel yet, to Belarus' state news
agency Belta, which released it on Saturday.
"While we
condemn terrorism, we categorically disagree that you can respond to terrorism
in violation of the principles of international humanitarian law, including
those aimed at "Indiscriminate use of force against civilians, including
hostages," he said.
He added that
it was impossible to destroy Hamas – as Israel has promised to do – without
destroying Gaza, including most of its civilian population.
Lavrov warned
that "if Gaza is destroyed and its two million residents expelled, as some
politicians in Israel and abroad are proposing, it will be a disaster for
decades, if not centuries." will lead to."
"This must
be stopped, and humanitarian programs announced to protect the population under
the blockade."
He added that
it was impossible to destroy Hamas – as Israel has promised to do – without
destroying Gaza, including most of its civilian population.
Lavrov warned
that "if Gaza is destroyed and its two million residents expelled, as some
politicians in Israel and abroad are proposing, it will be a disaster for
decades, if not centuries." will lead to."
"It is
important to stop, and announce humanitarian programs to protect the population
under the blockade
be done."
Moscow gave
Hamas a list of names and requested their release. "We pay a lot of
attention to this list and we will handle it carefully because we see Russia as
our closest friend," the Russian news agency RIA quoted senior Hamas
representative Musa Abu Marzouq as saying. "
“Now, we're
looking
r those people.
It is difficult, but we are looking. And as soon as we find them, we will
release them. Despite the difficulties caused by the current situation.
Israel has said
it believes Hamas took 229 hostages during the Oct. 7 attack, which killed more
than 1,400. Israel has since continued to bomb Gaza, killing more than 7,300
Palestinians in the strip.
Russia believes
it is important to maintain contacts with all sides in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, the Kremlin said on Friday, defending its decision to invite the
Hamas delegation that invited Marzouq to Moscow - this The decision sparked
Israeli outrage.
Israel on Thursday
urged Russia to expel visiting Hamas members, calling Moscow's invitation
"deplorable".
Lavrov said
that Russia is also in close contact with Israel.
"We are in
full contact with Israel, and our ambassador is in regular contact with
them," Lavrov said.
"We are
sending signals about the need to find a peaceful solution and not follow this
declared 'scorched earth' strategy."
Kiev and the
West have accused Russia of bombing civilians in Ukraine. Moscow says it does
not deliberately target civilians and only targets military targets.
(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)
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