Russia’s foreign minister has stated that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is the only way to ensure a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Sergey Lavrov emphasized on Friday that resolving the Middle East conflict hinges on ending the violence and creating the conditions for an independent Palestinian state. He warned that there will be no winners in the ongoing war.
In an interview with the Turkish daily Hurriyet, Lavrov expressed concern about the escalating violence in the Middle East, claiming that more countries are being drawn into the “whirlpool of confrontation.”
Over the past year, Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah have exchanged fire. Hezbollah has supported the Palestinian cause in response to Israel’s military operations against Hamas. Israel, in turn, has intensified its campaign against Hezbollah, launching attacks on its targets in southern Lebanon.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have also escalated since Israel conducted a series of strikes against Iranian targets last week. This attack was a response to a barrage of missiles fired by Iran at Israel in October, which was itself retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah and Iranian commanders.
The Russian minister urged both sides to halt further escalation before the situation spirals out of control. He highlighted the tragic toll of the conflict, stating that tens of thousands of “innocent Palestinians” have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of the conflict with Israel, while thousands more have lost their lives in Lebanon.
Lavrov condemned the assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah political leaders, warning that it could exacerbate the already volatile situation in the region and hinder efforts to end the war in Gaza.
He noted that Moscow had previously proposed a UN Security Council assessment of the killings, but this initiative was thwarted by “resistance from Western members of the Security Council.”
Moscow calls for an immediate ceasefire and is engaged in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation, according to Lavrov. However, he stressed that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved “through the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of 1967.”
Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, stated that the root cause of the Gaza conflict lies in the disregard for UN resolutions concerning the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Currently, the state of Palestine is recognized by 146 UN members and half of the G20, including China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and Türkiye.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly pledged to prevent the creation of a fully functional Palestinian state.