Russian foreign minister speaks on telephone to senior Fatah official

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed measures Tuesday to de-escalate tensions in the Gaza Strip with a senior official from the Palestinian Fatah movement.

The Foreign Ministry said during a telephone discussion with the Secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s Executive Committee, Hussein Al-Sheikh, Lavrov emphasized the need for a cease-fire to prevent additional civilian casualties, increase humanitarian aid and the immediate evacuation of Russian citizens from the enclave.

He also reiterated Russia's support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and suggested the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with the capital in East Jerusalem.

Israel launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7.

Basic supplies are running low for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents due to the Israeli siege, in addition to the large number of casualties and massive displacements.