Belarusian president calls for lasting peace in Middle East

Belarus' president on Wednesday congratulated his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and called for lasting peace in the Middle East.

In a message published on the presidential website, Alexander Lukashenko said he wished the Palestinian people the return of a peaceful life on their land as soon as possible.

"Today, most of humanity understands that the search for a historical compromise for the creation of the State of Palestine, the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East are an important basis not only for the well-being of the region but also for stability throughout the world," he noted.

The Belarusian leader emphasized that over the past 75 years, the call of Palestinians on the international community to support them in their cause of obtaining statehood is becoming "increasingly vociferous."

Lukashenko also said that the necessity of the Palestinian state is stipulated by the UN documents and that Belarus consistently stands for the strict implementation of the UN Charter.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.