Russia 'shocked' by Israeli airstrikes on Jabalia refugee camp

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized on Thursday the Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

"We are shocked by the information about the death of a large number of civilians as a result of the bombing by Israeli aircraft of a refugee camp in the city of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip," Zakharova said at a news conference in Moscow.

Zakharova emphasized the need to adhere to international humanitarian law and the unacceptability of violence against civilian infrastructure.

She reiterated Russia's position and urged an immediate cease-fire and vowed to continue efforts to achieve that goal.

Zakharova said 1,000 Russian citizens applied to be evacuated from the Gaza Strip and diplomats are working with Israeli, Egyptian and Palestinian authorities to move them from the dangerous zone.

Regarding Israeli criticism of Russia's contacts with representatives of the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas in Moscow, she cited that previously, such communications did not attract Tel Aviv's criticism and for some reason, US contacts with the group do not bother Israel.

- Zakharova calls Moldovan president 'disgrace for country and threat to Moldovan people'

Zakharova slammed remarks by Moldovan President Maya Sandu, who demanded Russia's exclusion from the Transnistria settlement discussions.

"Maya Sandu is a disgrace to the country and a threat to the Moldovan people,” she said. “Such statements are extremely dangerous for maintaining stability in the region. She understands this and does exactly what (the West) wants from her, creates chaos in the post-Soviet space.”

Zakharova warned that if another European country, Finland, signs an agreement on defense cooperation with the US, Russia will have to respond with military and other measures to counter threats to its national security and concrete steps will depend on US-Finland actions.

Turning to Armenia's participation in a Ukrainian conference on Malta, the official assessed it as a "demonstrably anti-Russian gesture" and said it was "flirting with those who aggressively oppose Russia."

"It is regrettable that the current leadership of the republic purposefully persistently destroys our allied relations, which not so long ago itself called the most important factor of stability and prosperity of Armenia," she said.

Nevertheless, Russia is ready to contribute to Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization, including through organizing a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow, she said.