MOSCOW, April 28. /TASS/. Russia is deeply concerned about new escalation of tensions on the Palestinian territories and calls on all parties concerned to maintain restraint, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Saturday after the Israeli army had violently suppressed mass demonstrations in the Gaza Strip, which led to the death of four Palestinians.

"Moscow is deeply concerned about these tragic events and possible subsequent escalation of the situation on the Palestinian territories, including with regard to the intention voiced by the US administration to hold a ceremony in Jerusalem in mid-May which would mark the start of the transferal of the American embassy there from Tel Aviv," the Foreign Ministry said. "We are calling on the parties concerned to maintain restraint and hold off from moves that can provoke further escalation which can grow into full-scale confrontation between Gaza and Israel. This rather unfavorable scenario would not just threaten the lives of Palestinian and Israeli citizens, but would also derail all the more efforts to create conditions to settle the Palestinian - Israeli negotiating process on the established international legal basis."

On April 27, Palestinians carried out new mass protests against the Israeli occupation and the Gaza Strip blockade. The Israeli army violently suppressed the protests, which led to the death of four Palestinians, and several hundreds of people were injured by tear gas or wounded. The Israeli Air Force carried out several strikes on Hamas facilities in Gaza. A total of 44 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the Palestinian protest campaign on March 30, 2018.