Breaking news

FSB prevents terror act in Moscow by militants trained in Afghanistan, Pakistan

Russian FM calls for Israel-Hamas ceasefire following attacks on Gaza media center

Published time: November 19, 2012 11:57
Edited time: November 19, 2012 17:32
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on an office of Hamas television channel Al-Aqsa in Gaza City on November 18, 2012. An Israeli air strike hit a Gaza City media building on November 18, injuring at least six journalists, as a separate raid in northern Gaza killed two people, Palestinian medical sources said. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed)

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has urged an immediate ceasefire between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian militants to avoid more fatalities.

Moscow labeled rocket attacks against Israeli territory unacceptable, while calling Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip disproportionate. Russia vowed to engage the UN Security Council and the Middle-East mediating Quartet (the UN, EU, Russia, and the US) to normalize the situation.

"Moscow deems necessary the soonest end of the armed confrontation. We urge the conflicting sides to put an end to military operations in order to prevent new casualties. We reaffirm that shelling of the Israeli territory and disproportionate strikes on Gaza, which harm innocent civilians, are unacceptable," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia has condemned in the strongest terms the Sunday airstrike on the international media compound in Gaza. As a result of the attack, several foreign TV channels, including RT Arabic, lost their offices in the conflict zone.

Though all personnel were evacuated after the initial assault, overall six journalists were injured. One of the wounded, a cameraman with the local al-Quds TV, reportedly lost his leg. Local Ma’an news agency reported that most hits were targeting the office of the official Palestinian al-Quds TV on the 11th floor of one of the two buildings.

Israel attacked over 1350 targets since the beginning of Pillar of Cloud operation on November 14, Russian diplomats stated. About 90 Palestinians were killed – at least a third of them were women and children.

Meanwhile, over 1,000 missiles and shells have been fired from Gaza to the Israeli territory since the beginning of the conflict. About 200 Israeli citizens were injured, the Russian Ministry says citing media reports.

Earlier, Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation via telephone with Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Riyad Al-Maliki. Lavrov confirmed Moscow’s stance on the unacceptability of attacks from both the warring sides.

On Thursday last week, President Vladimir Putin spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He urged the sides involved in the conflict “to display restraint,” not to follow the path of escalation of violence, and to do “everything possible to bring the situation back to normal.”

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on an office of Hamas television channel Al-Aqsa in Gaza City on November 18, 2012. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed)
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on an office of Hamas television channel Al-Aqsa in Gaza City on November 18, 2012. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed)

Comments (13)

Alien2U (unregistered) 22.11.2012 15:50


Stopped by planet and picked up 2 hitch hikers - they say the originated here- a guy named Moses and another Jesus.
As we approached this beautiful looking planet called Earth-
My  two hitch hikers in the back of my ship screamed "WTF- happened"?
Scared the sh**t outa me?
They forced me to turn around @ full warp 15
this planet will be quarantined for the safety of higher life forms- this one has regressed to levels of the primate’s superstitious land “Dirt” worshippers. Dirt more precious than life “WTF “?

0

Undo

Count Cash 21.11.2012 10:11

The unfortunate thing for Palestinians is that stalemate suits ‘all’, be they US, Russia, Israel…. for different reasons The US and Israel have a genocide pact, where they hope that in true US fashion ‘reservationising the Palestinians will do the trick and Russia sees Israel as a partner with roots reaching back through Jewish immigrant interaction and beyond. In honesty there is little support for Palestinians in either the US or Russia. The stalemate indeed suits ‘all’ except the Palestinians who are being terrorised, killed and repressed out of existence as a people – be a nice Red Indian on handouts or die is the message from the west and lets all get along and leave things without rocking the boat is the message from our side. However, there is one big problem with this, its Palestinians desire for self realisation, dignity and respect and their capacity for Stalingrad. The problem is arising because they themselves will not accept the cosy for others arrangement, their submission as reservationists. They will not give up their just struggle, a struggle that upsets the status quo and pushes against their intended slide into national oblivion and historical curiosity. There is no justice or rightness in the positions of the US and Israel and we are just pragmatically neutral. Let’s be honest about it at least. Justice is with the Palestinians and will always be with them, they are the ones under genocide pressures, they are the ones suffering whilst outright lies are spun, or turns the other way take place. Would we really castigate the victim of rape because she scratched the rapists face! The US and Israel are inescapably on the wrong side morally here, and they will find themselves on the wrong side of history because of it. They cannot fool the world population, the real people all the time, and they are finding that out!

0

Undo

GreenLantern (unregistered) 20.11.2012 17:31

How is it even possible after 2500 years 'time has advanced" but nothing else- this race this species still slaughtering each other- still on their knees-
quoting superstition’s as their guide all from a manual of ignorance.
The organ can become erect but still not the mind of man? How’s this possible- well it’s called living from a book offered feely to any person would freely accepts with no evidence to provide. FAITH is not an option for these superstitions it is an absolute necessity. And once a person has his Faith this is now his truth all from a book making claims yet provide no evidence or Logic. His mind shuts down and he no longer thinks for himself and the evidence of this barbaric condition of his mind are oblivious for a free mind - killing for god land or religious beliefs- is an extreme act of not having TRUTH. So let me understand these barbaric ideas- God creates all and man decides whom is worthy of God’s creation? How ignorant is that? If God created the Jew- who has the authority to overrule what God has created what god has decided to create knowing ALL  or ‘all wise”. And if God created the Muslim race or Arabs who has the authority to judge them as unworthy- please step forward and show yourself. What the creator decides is not negotiable people- and you don’t have the wisdom or the knowledge or the authority to overrule what God has created “do you understand this”? There are higher levels “conditions” of life- But if we as a race cannot appreciate LIFE at the  lower levels “conditions” who can step forward and claim he is worthy of heaven or higher conditions of LIFE? I say let’s learn from the last 2500 years of a continuous state of war. I say let’s HONOR what is truly most worthy “LIFE” not religions not land not money or resources. Honoring land or resources or even books of Faiths are never more worthy than LIFE that was created and given by that which gives LIFE and all we see and all we can’t see. Wake up mankind!

0

Undo

View all comments (13)
Add comment

By posting your comment, you agree to abide by our Posting rules

Log in to comment in full, or comment anonymously under character-limit restriction.

100 Text

– required fields

Register or

Name

Password

Show password

Register

or Register

Request a new password

Send

or Register

To complete a registration check
your Email:

or Register

A password has been sent to your email address

Edit profile

Name

New password

Retype new password

Current password

Save

Cancel

Follow us