On Sunday the Israeli government sanctioned expanded operations in Gaza, directed at armed radical groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who have fired more than a hundred rockets into southern Israel over the past week.
"A dangerous escalation around the Palestinian territories provokes growing concerns in Moscow," Mikhail Kamynin said. "We absolutely condemn rocket launches against Israel, which claim civilian lives. We have spoken about this more than once."
The spokesman said Russia also disapproves of Israel's attacks on the Palestinian territories, and urged both sides to do everything possible to prevent further violence, and to refrain from 'an for an eye' logic.
At least 13 Palestinians, including two Hamas members, were killed on Sunday night and early Monday morning in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Israel moved early Sunday to step up pinpoint attacks on Gaza, targeting militant leaders behind the rocket attacks on Sderot, southern Israel, in which 15 people were wounded, and following which hundreds have been forced to flee their homes.
