MOSCOW

Russia on Wednesday denounced Israel's plans to expand its military operation and occupy the entire Gaza Strip, warning that it would have far-reaching consequences for the Middle East region.

"We believe that implementing such plans is extremely risky because it may lead to further degradation of the situation in occupied territories, with very serious negative consequences both for Israel's own security and for the entire Middle East region," Foreign Ministry's deputy spokesman Alexey Fadeyev said in response to an Anadolu question at a press briefing in Moscow.

Fadeyev said that despite efforts by mediator countries, indirect contacts between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israeli authorities have produced no tangible results.

"Our immediate priority now is to prevent the complete destruction of Gaza and avoid an increase in civilian casualties. The only way to achieve these goals is through urgent agreement on a ceasefire," he stressed.

The official also urged both sides to urgently find mutually acceptable solutions and transition to a sustainable cessation-of-fire regime, noting that doing so would allow for practical steps toward long-term resolution of the Palestinian issue based on the well-known two-state international legal framework.

Turning to the Sunday killing of Al Jazeera correspondents by Israeli military, Fadeyev said Russia views such attacks as "blatant assaults on freedom of the press."

"We view what happened as another manifestation of violations of international law systematically committed in the occupied Palestinian territory, as a blatant attack on press freedom. Such methods of dealing with those whom Israel considers enemies or even just opponents deserve the strongest condemnation," Fadeyev said.

He said the killing of media representatives "has become today’s tragic reality," adding that according to UN estimates since October 2023 more than 240 journalists have been killed in the Palestinian enclave.

"This, of course, is a very tragic and alarming signal," the diplomat emphasized.

Israel is facing mounting condemnation for its genocidal war on Gaza, where it has killed nearly 61,600 victims since October 2023.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.