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Regional countries must play role in Palestinian-Israeli conflict settlement — Lavrov

"It is obvious that in moving towards this goal, along with the efforts we are all making to address the pressing humanitarian issues I have mentioned, we must form a collective diplomatic mechanism," the top Russian diplomat added

MOSCOW, November 21. /TASS/. Regional countries must be involved in the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"When we now think about creating an external support mechanism to agree on the conditions for a long-term sustainable settlement on the basis of a two-state solution, we must think very seriously to make sure that such a mechanism is truly representative and fully takes into account the obvious fact that it is the countries of the region that understand better than anyone how to achieve a solution that will suit everyone for many years, forever," Lavrov said at a meeting with his counterparts from a number of Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states.

"It is obvious that in moving towards this goal, along with the efforts we are all making to address the pressing humanitarian issues I have mentioned, we must form a collective diplomatic mechanism," he continued. "We are convinced that regional countries, Arab states, and other Islamic countries should play an important role in this mechanism."

Tensions in the Middle East flared up again on October 7 after militants from the Palestinian group Hamas launched an incursion into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza and launched ground operations in the enclave, also carrying out air strikes on targets in the Strip, as well as on certain areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.