MOSCOW

Russian on Saturday condemned Israel's plan to expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Implementation of such decisions and plans threatens to exacerbate the already extremely dramatic situation in the Palestinian enclave, marked by signs of humanitarian catastrophe, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"It is expected that soon there will not be a single civilian left in the area. All residents will be subject to forced expulsion. The Israeli side does not conceal its intention to gradually capture and occupy the entire sector in subsequent stages," the statement said.

The ministry warned that such actions would significantly complicate international efforts towards de-escalation in the conflict zone, leading to serious negative consequences for the entire Middle East.

"Russia reaffirms its consistent position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, release of all hostages and detainees, as well as restoration of unhindered humanitarian access," it stressed.

Moscow emphasized that resolving the Palestinian issue is only possible on the established international legal basis, centered on the two-state principle, which envisions the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting peacefully and securely alongside Israel.