File Photo: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. AFP
"Russia considers the incident a grave violation of international law... an encroachment on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent state, and a step leading to further escalation," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Later Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed Al Thani in which he "reaffirmed his firm condemnation of this aggressive action".
In the call he slammed "the grave danger which Israel's actions represent", which Lavrov said "were leading to a new destabilisation of the situation in the Middle East".
Israel’s airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar – a key mediator in efforts to end Israel’s nearly two-year war on Gaza – have sparked international condemnation.
Hamas said six people were killed in the strikes, including the son of its exiled Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, but that its top leadership, including members of its negotiating team, survived the attack.
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