"It has become obvious that some external forces are seeking to exploit this new flare-up in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to further their interests and ignite a regional war," he told a plenary session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum in Morocco.
A wider conflict will continue the trend set by the United States and its allies, Lavrov added. He accused the West of being behind two decades of instability in the Middle East, which saw governments being toppled, hundreds of thousands being killed and others fleeing abroad.
The minister also added that Russia is continuing its efforts to ensure the long-term stabilization of Palestine-Israel relations, based on an internationally recognized legal framework.
"In coordination with our partners, first and foremost Arab partners, we are continuing our efforts in the interests of the long-term stabilization of the situation and the transfer of the work on resolving the conflict to the political and diplomatic level," Lavrov stressed.
Lavrov added that Russia’s position on the matter coincides with that of the Arab countries, which "reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the crisis on the basis of a universally recognized international legal framework" at the summit of the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held on November 11, 2023, in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
The Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum was established in 2009 between Russia and the LAS. According to a memorandum signed in Cairo, the main goals of the forum are to continue efforts to establish and consolidate international peace and security, as well as to contribute to the development of economic, trade and financial cooperation, including the implementation of joint projects.
On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip across the border, killing over 1,200 people and abducting some 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 19,400 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of the conflict, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.