The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine confirms its strong condemnation of the terrorist rocket attacks and attacks by armed groups of Hamas against the population of Israel, as a result of which several thousand people, including citizens of Ukraine, have already died and been injured.

We consider the acts of violence deliberately directed by Hamas against the civilian population to be categorically unacceptable, including numerous brutal murders and hostage-taking. Those guilty of these crimes should be held to the strictest punishment.

We firmly support Israel in its right to defense and in its efforts to counter terrorist acts.

It is of crucial importance that the ongoing hostilities should not lead to further growth of the number of victims among civilians from both sides of the conflict, in Israel and Palestine.

We believe that the Middle East peace process remains the basis of any efforts aimed at restoring regional stability and security.

Ukraine consistently supports the implementation of the principle of two states, Israel and Palestine, which will live side by side in peace and security, and advocates the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with the help of political and diplomatic means.

We are confident that a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in the Middle East can be realized within the framework of unconditional implementation by the parties of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and other international agreements.