UNITED NATIONS, October 14. /TASS/. Moscow has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said.

"We call for an immediate ceasefire and the prevention of further escalation of the conflict," he told reporters following a closed-door UN Security Council meeting on the current escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He added that there was a need to "restart peace negotiations."

According to Nebenzya, Russia expected comments from other UN Security Council member states and "asked for quite an expedited deadline" by 4:00 p.m. GMT on Saturday. The envoy added that some of the council’s members were positive about the document, while others had reacted with restraint.

"We stand ready for the mediation," Nebenzya stressed, adding that it was important for Russia to maintain contact with both sides, particularly because "a large number of our compatriots live both in Israel and Palestine."

The Russian envoy also noted the current flare-up of violence in the Middle East stemmed from violations of UN Security Council resolutions.

Tensions in the Middle East flared up again after Hamas militants infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7. The Palestinian movement described its attack as a response to the actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza and started carrying out strikes on the Palestinian enclave, as well as on certain areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank. Over 1,900 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 have suffered wounds; in Israel, the death toll stands at about 1,500 and nearly 4,000 people have been wounded.