MOSCOW, Monday, August 8, 2022 (WAFA) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that the Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have caused the escalation of tension.

“The new escalation was caused by the Israeli army firing into the Gaza Strip on August 5," said Zakharova in a statement, prompting the Palestinians to respond with a barrage of rocket attacks at Israel.

The spokeswoman expressed Moscow’s deep concern about the outbreak of a new spiral of armed violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"We express deep concern about these developments, which could lead to the resumption of an all-out military confrontation and the further deterioration of the deplorable humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip," she said, reaffirming Russia's support for a comprehensive and long-term settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict under the principle of the two-state solution.

"We note once again that the recurrent violence can be put to an end only through negotiations, which must lead to the realization of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state on the 1967 borders," said Zakharova.

Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Cairo said the United States and the European Union adhere to the policy of double standards and traditionally defend Israel's position.

It said in a statement that "the United States and Europe, which constantly adhere to the policy of double standards, traditionally defend Israel's position,” adding, that they "only occasionally issue routine statements about support for Palestine and the two-state solution to maintain the image of peacekeepers at the global level."

The embassy stressed that “however, no one really cares about the fate of the Palestinians in the 'flourishing democracies' that claim to be the centers for the defense of human values and respect for human feelings."

M.K.