MOSCOW, August 05. /ITAR-TASS/. Moscow has welcomed a ceasefire in the Gaza strip, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. A 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire, reached by Israel and Palestinian formations with Egypt's mediation, came into force in the Gaza strip at 8.00 am local time on August 5, the foreign ministry noted.

“Moscow has welcomed the ceasefire and calls on the warring sides to strictly observe the agreement so as in the framework of a corresponding initiative, suggested by Egypt, to create a possibility for lasting truce,” the foreign ministry said.

“We proceed from the assumption that a reliable, long-term settlement of the Gaza problem is impossible without mutual understanding, which would rule out repeated use of force in future. We are confident that the stabilization of the situation would promote the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian talks on matters of a final status of the Palestinian territories to be established on an international legal basis,” the foreign ministry said.