MOSCOW, November 23. /TASS/. Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov and Jordanian Ambassador to Moscow Khaled Shawabkeh have discussed the outcome of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with his counterparts from the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"While exchanging views on topical aspects of the Middle East agenda, the parties focused on the unprecedented escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, taking into account the outcome of Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s meeting with a delegation of top diplomats from a number of Arab League and OIC countries, which included Ayman Hussein Abdullah Al-Safadi, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and was held in Moscow on November 21," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the parties also touched upon pressing issues of further strengthening traditionally friendly Russian-Jordanian relations and emphasized the need to continue regular political dialogue.

Russia and the countries of the Arab-Muslim community confirmed at the November 21 meeting that they shared similar approaches to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They stressed that there was no alternative to finding a comprehensive political solution to the Palestinian issue on the basis of the well-known UN decisions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when Hamas militants staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking more than 200 hostages, including women, children and the elderly. 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. Israel has announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and has been delivering air strikes on Gaza as well as some parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also underway in the West Bank.