Israel-Hamas war: high risk of third party entering, says Russia as US prepares warship

Russia has said there was a “high risk” of a third party entering the conflict between Israel and Hamas after the US said it was moving warships closer to the country.

“The risk of third forces becoming involved in this conflict is high. It is very important to find ways as soon as possible to move towards some kind of negotiation process,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency.

Russia condemned violence in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. It criticised the United States for what it said was its destructive approach which had ignored the need for an independent Palestinian state, Reuters reported.

Russia, which has relationships with Arab countries, Iran and Hamas as well as with Israel, said the West had ignored the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders.

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