A plume of smoke billows behind highrise buildings in the sky during an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Monday — AFP MOSCOW, Oct 09 (AFP/Reuters): Russia said Monday that creating a Palestinian state is the "most reliable" solution for peace and that fighting terrorism alone would not ensure security.
Creating a "Palestinian state that would live side by side with Israel.. is the most reliable path to solve (the conflict)," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. "We cannot agree with those who say that security can only be ensured through a fight with terrorism".
Moscow and the Arab League will work to "stop the bloodshed" in Israel and Gaza, the Russian foreign minister said Monday as he met the group's chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Aboul Gheit was in Moscow for talks after the massive assault on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
"I am sure that Russia and the Arab League (will cooperate) above all else to stop the bloodshed," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Lavrov said it was necessary to "urgently stop clashes, solve the problem with civilians... and establish a reason why there is no solution (to the Israel-Palestinian conflict)."
Dozens of foreigners killed,missing or abducted
Dozens of foreigners have been killed, injured or taken hostage during a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas Saturday that has left 700 people dead, mostly Israelis.
Many of the missing foreigners were at a desert music festival, where scores of revellers were massacred. Twelve Thai labourers were killed, eight were wounded and 11 were taken captive, foreign ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke said Monday.
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said there were around 5,000 Thai labourers working in the areas hit by fighting who were being moved to safety.
Ten citizens of Nepal were killed in Kibbutz Alumin, one of the flashpoints of the Hamas assault, the Himalayan republic's embassy in Tel Aviv said on Sunday.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was trying to verify reports that "several" Americans were killed and others were missing. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, said on Sunday that at least four had been killed, adding: "We know the toll will rise."
EU foreign ministers to
discuss Israel situation
European Union foreign ministers will meet in an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Israel and the region, the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
They will meet to consider the responses and next steps for the EU, including reviewing aspects of development aid. The EU Commission also said on Monday that it is reviewing the consequences for its development assistance.
"The Commission is currently assessing how the recent tragic events might affect our current and our future development assistance," an EU Commission spokesperson told reporters on Monday.
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