MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. Russia condemns the actions of Hamas against Israel on October 7, but cannot turn a blind eye to the indiscriminate shelling of the Gaza Strip, Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky said.

"We certainly condemn what was done against Israel on October 7, there can be no justification for it," the diplomat said.

At the same time, he said, this position should be balanced with "the same condemnation of the non-discriminatory shelling of peaceful neighborhoods in Gaza and the death of civilians." "We cannot close our eyes to what is happening there, we have to be absolutely honest. Otherwise, the [UN Security] Council cannot count on any role in the settlement in the future," Polyansky added.

According to him, the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East was caused by "many years of lawlessness, the continuation of Israel's illegal actions against Palestine". "That is, to say that it was unprovoked is completely unjustified, and we are not ready to support such logic, like most of our partners in the international arena," the diplomat concluded.

The situation in the Middle East deteriorated dramatically after Hamas militants infiltrated Israel from Gaza on October 7. According to Hamas, the attack was in response to Israeli actions against Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel declared a total blockade of Gaza and began shelling the territory, as well as parts of Lebanon and Syria. More than 5,000 Palestinians were killed and more than 15,000 injured; on the Israeli side, about 1,500 people were killed and more than 4,200 injured.