The heads of Russia, Syria, Iran, Palestine and Egypt spoke in favor of a truce in Gaza

On October 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin held telephone conversations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdelfattah Sisi, reported Kremlin press service.

During all conversations, the topics of the escalating Palestinian-Israeli conflict were touched upon. The heads of state expressed extreme concern about the large-scale escalation of hostilities and the catastrophic increase in the number of civilian casualties.

“There was a unanimous opinion on the need for an early ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian truce in order to urgently provide assistance to all those in need,” – said the Kremlin.

It is also noted that “the President of Russia listened to the considerations and assessments of his colleagues, who emphasized the severity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need to lift the blockade of the sector for the urgent supply of medicines, food and other vital goods.” Along with this, there was also serious concern about the likelihood of the conflict escalating into a regional war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the unacceptability of any form of violence against civilians, and also stated that Russia deeply sympathizes with all the victims, relatives and friends of those killed as a result of this conflict.

On October 7, a massive missile strike was launched against Israel. The Islamist movement Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility for the attack. Hamas announced its Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Jerusalem launched the counter-terrorism Operation Iron Swords.

Within a week, the Israeli army was put on alert. The IDF began retaliating with large-scale missile strikes that continued for a week. On October 14, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the next stage of the operation in the Gaza Strip. The IDF said Israeli army battalions are deployed throughout the country and are increasing combat readiness “for the next phases of the war, with an emphasis on significant ground operations.”

However, the start of the offensive was delayed. On the morning of October 15, Israel opened a humanitarian corridor in the Gaza Strip for three hours to allow civilians to move to the south of the enclave. Near the border of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army has assembled a huge strike force.

Preparations for the operation in the Gaza Strip took place against the background of reports of the movement of US Navy ships to the Middle East. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin earlier said that the US military had also strengthened its fighter squadrons in the region. The American aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, as part of a strike group, arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on October 11. The second American aircraft carrier Dwight Eisenhower set sail for the Mediterranean on Saturday, October 14.

Shelling of Israeli cities continues from the Gaza Strip. Thus, strikes were carried out on Tel Aviv and its suburbs, and on October 15, Sderot came under fire again. One person was killed when the town of Shtula was shelled from the Lebanese side. The Hezbollah group, which began attacking Israeli territory, claimed responsibility for the attack on the settlement. In response, the IDF attacks Hezbollah military targets in Lebanon. In addition, a four-kilometer area south of the northern border with Lebanon was isolated. Last night, the Israeli Air Force also damaged the airport in Syrian Aleppo.

On October 13, the Israel Defense Forces gave residents of the northern Gaza Strip a day to evacuate to the south of the country. The UN emphasized that the migration of 1.1 million people would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. On October 15, Israel announced the opening of the corridor for civilians, but for three hours. On October 16, a ceasefire lasting five hours was introduced in the southern Gaza Strip at 9:00 Moscow time.