You're reading: Foreign Ministry: Russia concerned over mounting tension on Israeli-Gaza border

MOSCOW - Russia has called on the Palestinians and Israelis to prevent an escalation of violence in the wake of the latest outbreak of tension on the Israeli-Gaza border.

“Mounting tension around Gaza, accompanied by casualties among innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians, arouses deep concern in Moscow,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website on Monday.

“We are urging all parties involved to show restraint and refrain from steps that could cause violence to escalate”, the statement says.

The ministry backed Egypt’s efforts to promote a ceasefire and restore calm.

Israel’s plans, announced last week, to build 1,285 additional homes for Jews in the settlements of Pisgat Zeev and Ramot in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank settlement of Ariel are worsening the situation, the ministry said.

The ongoing Israeli settlement activity and outbreaks of tension along the Gaza border are undermining international efforts aimed at reanimating the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, it said.

On November 10, Gaza militants reportedly opened fire on an Israeli army patrol on the Israeli-Gaza border, wounding several servicemen. The follow-up shootout lasted into the morning of November 12 with Israeli aircraft bombing the Gaza territory twice over the past couple of days and militants firing about a hundred missiles into southern Israel, including Sderot. Palestinian sources claim that at least six people were killed and 30 others were wounded. Several Israeli civilians were reportedly hurt.