Russia and Arab League Call for Immediate Ceasefire and Negotiations in Israel-Palestine Conflict
Moscow and Cairo – In a joint effort to promote peace and stability in the Israel-Palestine conflict, both Russia and the Arab League have called for an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to negotiations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit expressed deep concern over the loss of life and injury suffered by civilians on both sides.
During a meeting in Moscow, Lavrov emphasized the unacceptability of violence and the death of innocent civilians. He stressed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a transition to negotiations to address the longstanding issues fueling the conflict. Lavrov cited the implementation of United Nations resolutions on the Palestinian problem as the only viable initiative that should be pursued through direct talks between Palestine and Israel.
Underscoring Moscow’s commitment to a two-state solution, Lavrov highlighted the importance of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He lamented the fact that previous escalations in violence had not led to the necessary efforts to address the root causes eroding stability in the Middle East.
In a separate development, the Arab League announced an emergency meeting set to take place on Wednesday. The meeting, at the request of Palestine and chaired by Morocco, the current president of the Arab League Council, aims to discuss strategies for bringing an end to the ongoing conflict. Arab foreign ministers will explore political actions at both Arab and international levels to address the situation.
The urgent push for a ceasefire and negotiations comes in the aftermath of a surprise attack by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israeli towns neighboring the Gaza Strip. The attack has claimed the lives of at least 700 Israelis, while Israeli retaliatory attacks in the Gaza Strip have resulted in 493 fatalities and approximately 2,751 wounded.
The international community hopes that the joint calls for a ceasefire and renewed negotiations will bring an end to the deadly violence that has gripped the region. With Arab leaders joining Russia in stressing the urgency of these steps, there is an increased momentum to find a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
As the Arab League holds its emergency meeting, stakeholders and global leaders will be closely watching for diplomatic efforts to quell the violence and pave the way for meaningful dialogue.
