UPDATES WITH FURTHER COMMENTS BY KREMLIN SPOKESMAN
By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) – Russia said on Monday that the ongoing fighting between Israel and the Gaza-based resistance group Hamas poses “a great danger for the region.”
“We believe that it is necessary to bring this situation into a peaceful direction as soon as possible, because the continuation of such a round of violence, of course, is fraught with further escalation and growth of this conflict. This is a great danger for the region, so we are extremely concerned,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a press briefing in Moscow.
Moscow is watching what is going on around Israel and in the Middle East with “great concern,” Peskov said, warning that the current situation has the potential to spread.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s schedule currently does not include contacts with the leaderships in Israel and Palestine, but such contacts can be agreed upon quickly if necessary, the Kremlin spokesman added.
Peskov further said the Russian Embassy in Israel has no information yet on any citizens injured in the country, and that the embassy is working to clarify details about it.
He added that diplomats are also in contact with Palestinian authorities regarding Russian citizens living in the Palestinian territories.
Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.
At least 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.
In retaliation, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 493 Palestinians and wounding over 2,750 others.