Russia on Monday called for an end to the fighting in Gaza and said a resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations was essential to avoid the risk of a broader war and an increase in “terrorist activity.”
Russia has repeatedly accused the United States and the West of ignoring the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders.
“The priority today is the speedy cessation of hostilities in Gaza,” Russia’s foreign ministry said, Reuters reports. “If not, we will face the risks of radicalisation and an increase in terrorist activity and the danger of the conflict expanding its geography,” it said.
Meanwhile, the South African government has said it would recall all its diplomats from Israel to “signal” its concern over the situation in Gaza. “The South African government has decided to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation,” Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, a minister in the president’s office, told a press briefing.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has announced a 25 million euro ($27 million) increase in humanitarian aid for Gaza, bringing the total EU humanitarian aid for the region to 100 million euros. “By doing so the European Union will spend a total of 100 million euros in humanitarian aid for the civilians in Gaza,” von der Leyen told EU diplomats in Brussels.—Reuters
