Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin discussed the situation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict over the phone with Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz on Friday.
"The two sides discussed in detail the current situation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with a focus on the need to de-escalate tensions as soon as possible and ensure the proper security of civilians in Israel and Palestine," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The sides also touched on topical issues of Palestinian-Israeli settlement, which are under consideration of the UN Security Council and UN GA.
Since May 10, the Israeli army and Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip have not stopped firing at each other. This follows riots at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem in early May that were triggered by an Israeli court decision to seize homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood from Arab families living there. On Friday, Jewish state media reported nine Israelis killed in the attacks. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 119 Palestinians were killed and more than 600 were injured in Israeli strikes on the Strip.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Valery Sharifulin / TASS
Based on materials from TASS