Israel-Gaza bombardment inadmissible - Lavrov » American University in Moscow

Published 19-11-2012, 11:03

Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed "the principal Russian position on the inadmissibility of bombarding the southern regions of Israel and the Israeli army’s disproportionate attacks at Gaza, and due to this, innocent civilians have become victims", Russian Foreign Ministry reported today after a telephone conversation between Lavrov and the PNA Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Maliki.

"The main topic of conversation was the situation around the Gaza Strip, where the armed confrontation continues to gain momentum", the MFA informed. "The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PNA outlined the Palestinian assessment of the current situation in Gaza and told about the results of the emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the League of the Arab States, devoted to the crisis situation in the Palestinian enclave held on November 17 in Cairo ".

China Monday called for "maximum restraint" by all parties, especially Israel, in the Gaza Strip conflict as the death toll from air strikes on the territory rose.

"We strongly urge relevant parties, in particular Israel, to exercise maximum restraint," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.

Update 12:19

Israel's Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz in an interview with the Galei Zahal Israeli army radio station noted that the Israeli authorities had presented the Hamas movement with a 36-hour ultimatum, on the expiry of which, in case missiles launches from Gaza targeted at Israel did not stop, they would expand their military operation. The Minister stressed that in case Hamas did not stop bombarding the Israeli territory and illegally supplying weapons to Gaza, the matter could reach the point of "totally military solution".

"We are standing at a crossroads. Either a stabilization of the situation is in store for us, or an expansion of the operations, including the totally military solution of the problem that is under consideration at the moment", - Yuval Steinitz said.

The radio notes that Israel has used Egypt as an intermediary in handing the ultimatum. According to its data, indirect talksbetween Tel Aviv and Hamas are under way, but the differences between the parties are still too serious.

On its part, the Voice of Israel radio station informs, that the issue of Egypt’s mediatory role at the cease-fire negotiations will be resolvedon Monday.

According to the army radio, Hamas demands that Israel should completely raise the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli defense forces should undertake not to cross the barrier separating Israel from the Gaza Strip, and terminate pointed strikes.

Israel demands that Hamas should stop missile attacks, and put an end to arms smuggling in Gaza.

Update 10:59

People are terrified to death, death tolls are rising, as the violent conflict between Israel and the Palestinians continues for the sixth straight day, despite diplomatic talks in Egypt.

On Sunday a bomb rocketed from Israel hit a two-story home of Jamal Dalu, a shop owner, and killed his entire family: his sister, wife, two daughters, daughter-in-law, four grandchildren ages 2 to 6, along with two neighbors, an 18-year-old and his grandmother. Mr. Dalu was himself at a neighbor’s when the tragedy happened.

The attack was condemned by Hamas rulers as a "massacre” that "exceeded all expectations.”

"The wanted target in this case was responsible for firing dozens of rockets into Israel,” a spokesperson for the Israeli military said. "We are committed to the safety of the citizens of Israel.”

The same Sunday Israelis were awoken by a new torrent of Palestinian rockets, some of them knocked out of the sky by the so called Iron Dome missile defense system.

The whole region is paralyzed. People spent the night in bomb shelters. Malls are closed, virtually no one dares to walk in the street.

"The children are terrified,” Sharon Galili, a lawyer who has 3-year-old twins and a 5-year-old, said. "Every noise they hear — a truck or motorcycle — they ask if there is an alert. You feel their fear. We are not right-wing or left-wing; we just want quiet. The situation is surrealistic, but that is the reality we live in.”

Voice of Russia, the Washington Post, IF, TASS, RIA

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