MOSCOW, July 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Moscow calls on Palestine and Israel to join efforts for stopping confrontation, Russia’s Foreign Ministry says.

“The situation in Gaza reached a new spiral of tension. On July 17, the Israeli army started a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Ministry says its priority is to destroy the Hamas potential, including tunnels from Gaza to the Israeli territory,” the ministry says.

At least 25 Palestinians were killed several hours after the operation had started. “An Israeli soldier died and five servicemen were injured,” it says.

Russia “voices serious concern over further degradation of the situation in the Gaza Strip”. “Russia is mostly worried about victims among peaceful Palestinians, including women and children,” the ministry says.

“We call on the warring parties to stop confrontation. Egypt’s initiative could be one of the bases for a truce.” “Russia is ready to contribute to searching for ways to overcome the crisis in Gaza and around it,” the ministry says.