MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized on Monday that establishing a sovereign Palestinian state remains the “most reliable” path to achieve lasting peace in the region. Lavrov made these remarks during a press conference alongside Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the head of the Arab League, who visited Russia following the massive surprise attack by the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas on Saturday.
Lavrov underscored that relying solely on security efforts would not guarantee long-term security. “We cannot agree with those who say that security can only be ensured through a fight with freedom fighters,” he stated. Expressing deep concern over the loss of lives in Israel and Gaza, Lavrov highlighted the need for a political resolution to the conflict, urging the international community to address the root causes.
“Moscow is deeply concerned that hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have lost their lives, and the Gaza Sector has been declared a target for Israeli attacks,” Lavrov said. He criticized previous attempts where the focus was solely on defeating fighters, without addressing the underlying issues leading to the conflict. Lavrov stressed that the Palestinian problem must not be delayed any further and called for urgent attention to resolving the crisis.
🤝 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov and Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit
📍 Moscow pic.twitter.com/7eEh5fRSAO
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) October 9, 2023
🔴 #LIVE: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit hold a joint news conference following talks in Moscow https://t.co/1tNTVb7GuN
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) October 9, 2023
Russia and Arab League to Work for Stopping Bloodshed in Gaza
Earlier, Lavrov had announced that Russia and the Arab League were committed to working together to “stop the bloodshed” in Gaza. Meanwhile, Aboul Gheit condemned the violence in Gaza and emphasized the need for political prospects and a fair resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The Kremlin expressed its apprehension on Monday, fearing the potential involvement of foreign actors after the United States moved warships closer to its ally Israel. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the importance of initiating negotiations promptly to de-escalate the situation and move away from a military solution.
