(VOVworld) – Many countries have voiced their concerns over the escalating violence in the Gaza strip that has caused severe civilian casualties. They have called for a truce between the related parties and a resumption of direct negotiations to end the bloody clashes over the past 20 days.

Palestinian families who fled their homes from Shejaiya neighborhood. Photo: internet

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh stressed that direct Palestino-Israeli talks should be resumed as soon as possible during their Thursday telephone conversation. The two diplomats emphasized that involved parties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should abide by international law.

The same day, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling on Israel and Palestine to take effective emergency measures to end the bloodshed, and carry out peaceful negotiations.

In another development, hundreds of Spanish people marched in front of the Israeli Embassy in Madrid in protest at the Israeli army’s activities in the Gaza strip. The conflict has claimed more than 700 Palestinian lives over the past 20 days.