In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful!

We are extremely concerned about what is happening in Gaza and southern Israel. The international community, including Russia, has been trying for many decades to peacefully resolve the conflict in the historic Palestine, a land considered sacred by every follower of the Abrahamic religions. It is regrettable that the constant failure to fulfil the agreements and commitments reached, including United Nations' resolutions and the Oslo Accords, has resulted in another round of confrontation.

We call on the conflict parties to refrain from escalating it, ensure security, put an end to the loss of civilian lives and turn to a dialogue based on the peace initiatives of regional and global powers, including Russia. We appeal to representatives of various traditional religions in Russia, the general public and all people of goodwill to avoid superficial assessments and not to impart any religious overtone to this and other military and political conflicts of our time. Interfaith peace, stability and prosperity of all peoples of the Russian Federation should not depend on external factors.

Instigators, extremists and unscrupulous politicians must not be allowed to cash in on religion, nor can they exploit the issue of counter-terrorism to violate international obligations and human rights.

We pray for the end of this bloodshed and for global peace.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin

Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation

Chairman of the Russia Muftis Council