Russia is aware of statements suggesting that Israel will continue until it eliminates Hamas, but it's essential to remember that the laws of war are not nullified. This was emphasized by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a press conference following the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE Ministerial Council).
"We hear statements from the Israeli leadership that they will not stop until they destroy Hamas. I won't delve into details now on how this is perceived by experts and professional military analysts, but it's essential to remember that the laws of warfare have not been invalidated," the head of Russian diplomacy emphasized.
The minister presented statistics, revealing that the number of killed children in Gaza exceeded 6 thousand, and women surpassed 4 thousand. "We unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack on October 7, but we also emphatically disagree that terrorism can be combated through any means, including gross violations of international law," Lavrov emphasized, highlighting that this stance is shared by nearly all countries concerned about the region.
The Russian foreign minister acknowledged hearing that the Americans urged Israeli leaders to minimize the impact on civilians, stating that this might be the minimum action. He added that Russia, at the UN Security Council, aimed to go a step further by proposing a declaration of a humanitarian ceasefire.
A resolution presented by Brazil, as well as a draft by Arab sponsors at the UN General Assembly, was vetoed by the US. Lavrov clarified that the subsequent resolution from Brazil in the UNSC led to Russia abstaining, as it was perceived to be weaker than the stance of the General Assembly.
Lavrov underscored that Russia consistently seeks to ensure Israel's security, acknowledging its "vulnerable position." He pointed out that the root cause of this vulnerability lies in the non-implementation of the UN Security Council decision to establish a Palestinian state. Lavrov emphasized the vision of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, aiming for peaceful coexistence with Israel and all neighboring nations. He also referenced the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, outlining the path to stability and peaceful relations in the region, expressing frustration at the current challenges in achieving this goal.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS