MOSCOW, July 25 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Jude in a phone conversation Thursday voiced their support for Egypt’s initiative on reaching a deal on ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.
The sides also “stressed the importance for all the parties to observe the norms of the international law and the need to immediately resume direct Palestinian-Israeli talks on the generally accepted international and legal basis,” the statement said.
The Russian and Jordanian foreign ministers called to enhance the role of the so-called Quartet of Middle East peace mediators in close cooperation with the League of Arab States.
The plan of Egypt, acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian groups, envisages bilateral ceasefire to be followed by talks in Cairo on the conditions of a long-term settlement.
The document also details the opening of border crossings linking the enclave with the world.
After long discussions, Hamas rejected the plan saying the agreement with Tel Aviv should envisage the complete lifting of the blockade in the Gaza Strip and releasing all the Palestinian prisoners.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said the peace plan is comprehensive and should not be revised.
Israel has been conducting its military operation in the Gaza Strip against the ruling Hamas movement since July 7. On July 18, after ten days of airstrikes and shelling from the sea, Israel’s troops and armored vehicles entered the enclave. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed. Israel also suffered the loss.
