MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. Russia calls on the parties to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to strictly adhere to the agreement on a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip and is ready to facilitate the de-escalation of the situation in every way, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"We hope that the aforementioned agreement will be strictly observed by all sides, facilitating the further development of relevant communication in the interests of resolving pressing humanitarian issues and becoming an important step in the overall de-escalation of the situation," she said at a news briefing. "In turn, we intend to facilitate this in every way in close coordination with regional partners," she added.

Zakharova noted that the humanitarian pause in Gaza "will help increase the deliveries of food, fuel and medicine for the Strip’s residents." "Reaching these important agreements that people’s lives depend on became largely possible thanks to effective mediating efforts made by representatives from Qatar and Egypt who are in touch with the Hamas leadership," she asserted.

The spokeswoman also stressed that the Russian side "will continue to encourage all the parties involved to seek the necessary compromise resolutions for the swiftest conclusion of the crisis situation and the comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on international law." "We welcome the agreements reached and want to stress that this has been our country’s initial stance since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict escalated on October 7, 2023. We called both for the de-escalation and humanitarian pauses and for resolving not simply pertinent but extremely pressing humanitarian issues by means of a ceasefire," the diplomat concluded.

On November 22, the radical movement Hamas announced that an agreement on a four-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip had been reached with Israel through the mediation of Qatar and Egypt. The movement confirmed that the agreement stipulated the release of 50 women and children under the age of 19 who are held in Gaza in exchange for the release of those held in Israeli prisons.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Israel will suspend military activities for a day in exchange for the release of a group of ten hostages. According to Israel, over 200 people remain in militant captivity.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when militants from the Gaza-based Palestinian radical group Hamas staged a surprise 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 on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. In response, Israel has declared a state of war readiness; announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians; and began delivering air strikes on the enclave and certain parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are underway in the West Bank as well.