Russia outlines dark scenario without 'political horizon', Israel offers new proposal

On December 28, Russia once again called for an end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, Egypt confirmed that it had presented a proposed framework to end the bloodshed in the region, while Israel proposed a new deal on prisoner exchanges.

Xung đột ở Dải Gaza: Nga nêu viễn cảnh đen tối nếu không có 'một chân trời chính trị', Israel đưa đề xuất mới

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for the establishment of a Palestinian state, breaking the vicious cycle of violence in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has been going on for 75 years and shows no signs of stopping. Gazans have repeatedly suffered a cycle of confrontation, attacks and revenge between Israel and Palestinian militant groups.

In an exclusive year-end interview with TASS news agency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “It is unacceptable to justify, let alone encourage, attacks or respond to them with collective punishment methods that blatantly violate international humanitarian law.”

Saying that the US's "behind-the-scenes" diplomacy in the Middle East has led to the current escalation, the Russian foreign minister asserted that "it is time for everyone to learn from the consequences" of this policy.

The Russian Foreign Minister stressed that Moscow's position is "based on the decisions of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly, the Arab Peace Initiative", and called for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

According to Mr. Lavrov, the task of international mediators is to help the parties involved establish a dialogue in which they can resolve all controversial issues, although “it is not easy”, but without negotiations, bloodshed will continue.

“It is necessary to break the vicious circle of violence, to eliminate the injustice that many generations of Palestinians have suffered,” the Russian foreign minister said, because without “a political horizon, Israelis and Palestinians will continue to live from one escalation to another.”

On the same day, Reuters reported that Egypt confirmed that it had presented a proposed framework to end the bloodshed in Gaza, including a three-phase plan for a ceasefire.

However, the head of Egypt's State Information Agency Diaa Rashwan said the country has yet to receive a response from relevant parties.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera TV channel reported that Israel has proposed a new agreement with Qatar, which plays a mediator role in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, regarding the release of hostages and prisoners.

Under the proposal, in the first phase, Israel would withdraw troops from densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip and allow more aid into the enclave.

In the second phase, Hamas will release female Israeli prisoners, including female soldiers, and the bodies of dead Israelis, while the Jewish State's forces withdraw to areas determined with the mediation of Qatar and the United States.

However, Hamas has so far rejected the proposal because it does not call for a complete ceasefire during the hostage exchange.

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