Russian State Duma urges for measures to stop bloodshed in Gaza

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian lawmakers on Thursday urged the UN and parliaments of other countries to take measures to stop the ongoing bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.

The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in a statement urged to "swiftly implement all necessary measures to halt the ongoing bloodshed and the intensification of violence against civilians in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," with the aim of averting an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.

The deputies also highlighted the Oct. 17 attack on a Gaza hospital, resulting in the deaths of "hundreds of innocent civilians, including women and children."

"Unjustified brutality and disproportionate use of force have already led to the deaths of several thousand people. Barbaric methods of solving political problems by armed means have led to thousands of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic protests around the world," the statement read.

The State Duma condemned any violation of international humanitarian law by the conflicting parties, including the use of prohibited ammunition, carpet bombing, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and forced civilian displacement and urged bringing guilty in war crimes to justice.

The lawmakers also criticized the US and "collective" Western position on the situation, saying actions they undertake only add fuel to the conflict.

"The deputies of the State Duma urge the parliamentarians of the countries of the world to make every possible effort to end hostilities in the conflict zone, organize humanitarian corridors, provide necessary assistance to the victims and the families of the victims.

"Only by combining our efforts will we be able to stop a new war in the Middle East and return to the negotiating table, which should be based on a balanced approach and well-known decisions of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council," the legislative body stressed.

Palestinian group Hamas carried out a multipronged surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, to which Tel Aviv responded in the form of relentless bombardment and blockade of the besieged enclave.

The UN agencies say Gaza is facing a deep humanitarian catastrophe, and access for relief deliveries and a humanitarian cease-fire is a priority.