Russia has voiced its concern about the escalating conflict in the Gaza strip where Israel launched a special military operation on Wednesday. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is reported to be closely following the situation in the region and is planning a series of international contacts in this regard, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters today. “We are monitoring the situation very closely. President Vladimir Putin is receiving updates on it. Of course, we are all very concerned,” Peskov indicated. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday Moscow was “very concerned” about the escalation in Gaza where an Israeli air strike killed Hamas military chief Ahmed Jaabari. “We are very concerned about the developments,” he told reporters here in Riyadh earlier yesterday. “It is necessary to end all acts of violence,” he added. “It is a shame the Quartet did not manage over the past months … to meet and come up with a clear stance,” he added, referring to the Quartet on Middle East peace efforts that groups Moscow with Washington, the United Nations and European Union.