MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION INFORMATION AND PRESS DEPARTMENT
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Unofficial translation from Russian

In Relation to the New Aggravation of the Situation in the Gaza Strip
www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/e78a48070f128a7b43256999005bcbb3/70b7fbb03bcaa775c3257220003ada9d?OpenDocument

1952-08-11-2006

On November 8, Israeli tanks shelled a residential block in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, reportedly killing 18 Palestinians, including children, and wounding more than 40 others. We extend our deeply felt condolences to the families and relatives of the dead and sympathy for the injured.

Moscow is extremely concerned by this tragic incident with many casualties among the civilian population. We consider that the Israeli army’s actions go beyond the declared aims to prevent firings at Israel from Gaza and lead to a further exacerbation of the situation in Palestinian-Israel relations.

Unfortunately, the present escalation of violence is occurring precisely when the major political forces of the Palestinian National Authority are trying to form a coalition government which would be able to tackle the vital problems of the Palestinians and forge constructive engagement with Israel.

In our opinion, extremist forces in Gaza also bear their share of responsibility that by continued rocket firings at Israeli territory – yesterday alone they fired five Qassam rockets at the towns of Sderot and Ashkelon – provoke the authorities of Israel into a military reaction.

To cease the bloodshed we call on both sides to put an end to the exchange of strikes victimizing innocent civilians and undertake urgent steps to stabilize the situation and re-establish political dialogue. There is no reasonable alternative to this.

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