"We are calling on Palestinians to stop terrorist acts, including rocket launches on Israeli territory, and on Israel to exercise restraint and refrain from using force, particularly large-scale raids, leading to civilian victims and jeopardizing the political settlement," said Foreign Ministry official spokesman Mikhail Kamynin.
Palestinian militants broke through the Nahal Oz border crossing on Wednesday, attacking a fuel depot and killing two Israelis and injuring two more civilians before fleeing back to Gaza. Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a retaliatory measure, involving tanks and helicopters, Israeli troops killed nine Palestinians, including two teenagers.
The attack followed two raids by Israeli troops on the Gaza Strip which left three Palestinians dead and two others wounded.
Kamynin said the recent fighting had raised Moscow's concerns over an escalation in violence on the border between Israel and Gaza, which has been politically isolated since the radical Hamas group seized power of the Palestinian enclave last summer.
"We affirm our categorical condemnation of any terrorist attacks and raids. Indisputably, it is Israel's right and any other states' to protect the lives, security and welfare of their nationals. But at they same time, we consider it unacceptable that repressive measures should cause death and suffering among innocent people," Kamynin said.
The diplomat warned that moving towards isolation and violence could back Gaza into a very tight corner.
