-Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that it is “unacceptable” for Israel to use the October 7 attack by Hamas as an excuse for collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Speaking at a 2-day forum in Doha Qatar, he called for an international monitoring of the situation in the Gaza Strip.

He suggested that Hamas’ attack on Israel followed years of blockade and unfulfilled promises to establish a Palestinian state.

Lavrov spoke about the need for international observers in Gaza and emphasized the importance of putting international pressure for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on Monday that the death toll reached over 18,000 in the Palestinian territories, with close to 50, 000 people injured since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023.