Updated 4:44 p.m. Moscow Time
MOSCOW, September 11 (RIA Novosti) – The resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks may serve as a guarantee against further military action in the area, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Thursday.
"The full resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks on all aspects of the Palestinian territory"s future status in accordance with the international legal basis for Middle East peace settlement could become a reliable guarantee against outbreaks of violence in Gaza. Russia has been working to achieve this task in close contact with the Israelis, the Palestinians and all other parties concerned," he said.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots in the 20th century, with the most recent outbreak dating July 8, 2014, when Israel launched Operation Protective Edge against the Hamas movement in response to rocket attacks from the Palestinian side. On July 17, Israel switched to a ground offensive in order to destroy a network of tunnels along Gaza"s Israeli border.
More than 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have lost their lives in the Gazan conflict since July 8. During this time Israel has lost 68 people.
Israel and Palestine agreed on an open-ended ceasefire from August 26.
Under the deal brokered by the Egyptian government, Israel agreed to open its border crossings to allow humanitarian aid and construction materials to enter Gaza, and is to extend the permitted fishing zone to 6 miles off the Gaza coast.
Moscow welcomed the ceasefire deal, but insisted on recommencing talks on the establishment of a state of Palestine.
