Lavrov to discuss Gaza war with Arab and Muslim foreign ministers in Moscow

(Patria) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will host a meeting in Moscow today to discuss the situation in Gaza with the foreign ministers of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the RIA news agency reported.

RIA's report, citing a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, did not specify which countries would attend the meeting in Moscow.

Russia, which has close ties with Israel, has taken a cautious pro-Palestinian stance since the outbreak of the war over Gaza, criticizing Israel for civilian casualties and reiterating its long-standing support for a Palestinian state, agencies recall.

Arab and Muslim ministers called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday, when their delegation visited Beijing on the first leg of a tour to push for an end to hostilities and allow humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian enclave.

The delegation, which will meet with officials from all permanent members of the UN Security Council, is pressuring the West to reject Israel's justification of self-defense for its actions against Palestinians.

Officials who met with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi included those from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, among others.​