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Envoy to UN: Moscow Ready to Offer Platform for Israeli-Palestinian Talks

© REUTERS / Mohammed SalemPalestinians receive food during a tent city protest along the Israel border with Gaza, demanding the right to return to their homeland, east of Gaza City
Palestinians receive food during a tent city protest along the Israel border with Gaza, demanding the right to return to their homeland, east of Gaza City - Sputnik International
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Russia offers to host a summit of Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the nation’s deputy representative at the United Nations said Friday at an open-door UN meeting on the recent Gaza violence.

"We confirm our readiness to offer a Russian platform for a meeting of Israeli and Palestinians leaders," Vladimir Safronkov told the UN Security Council.

He stressed that the Middle Eastern peace process should be based on international rules and corresponding UNSC resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.

On Friday, a mass protest, which is expected to last for over a month, started along the Israeli border. During the event the protesters have already clashed with Israeli servicemen and reportedly 12 Palestinians were killed in the scuffle.

Israeli soldiers stand near the border with Gaza. (File) - Sputnik International
'IDF Won't Allow Single Palestinian to Cross Border': Researcher on Gaza Clashes
According to the Palestinian WAFA news agency, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered to make Saturday the day of mourning to pay respect to the people killed in the Friday clashes.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an independent probe into Palestinian deaths on the Gazan border with Israel, his spokesman said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the clashes at the Gaza fence today… which resulted in at least fifteen deaths and a large number of injured. The Secretary-General calls for an independent and transparent investigation into these incidents," Farhan Haq said in a statement.

In addition, the UN urges Israel to stick to international rules amid fears that the situation in Gaza may deteriorate in coming days, the UN chief’s political affairs aide, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, said after Palestinians began a six-week protest.

"Israel must uphold its responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian laws," the assistant secretary-general for political affairs said. "Lethal force should only be used as a last resort."

Israeli Merkava tanks roll near the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip as they return from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian coastal enclave on August 5, 2014 - Sputnik International
Israeli Army Says Could Hit Hamas If Border With Gaza Breached During Rallies
The Palestinian protest dubbed "The Great Return March," is dedicated to the so-called Land Day commemorating the day in 1976, when Israeli troops killed six Arabs protesting against confiscation of land.

On May 15, the Palestinians will commemorate Nakba (disaster in Arabic), when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced after Israel announced its independence in 1948.

The march sets an objective to attract attention to the problem of people, who have become refugees because of Nakba, as well as of their descendants.

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