French President Emmanuel Macron (left) listens to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Oct 24, 2023 in Ramallah, West Bank. (PHOTO/AP)

RAMALLAH/MOSCOW/DOHA/BEIRUT/JERUSALEM/UNITED NATIONS/RIO DE JANEIRO - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday called for a "complete ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip and the opening of permanent corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in the coastal enclave.

Abbas made the remarks during his meeting with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Abbas condemned the killing of civilians on both sides and called for the release of civilians, prisoners, and detainees on both sides.

Abbas also rejected the displacement of Palestinians from their homes and lands, whether they are in Gaza, the West Bank, or Jerusalem.

Macron stressed the importance of protecting civilians in Gaza, saying that he seeks to free hostages held by Hamas, including nine French nationals.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) speaks to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting at Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Sept 4, 2023. (PHOTO/AP)

Two-state solution

Also on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated their support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, during a telephone call on Tuesday.

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks and called for regional efforts to stop the conflict

The positions of Russia and Turkey "practically coincide," and both countries support the two-state solution, which envisions the establishment of an independent Palestinian state coexisting side by side with Israel peacefully, the Kremlin said.

The two sides expressed "deep concern over the growing number of civilian casualties and the catastrophic deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip," the Kremlin noted.

They condemned strikes targeting residential areas, as well as religious or social facilities, it said.

Erdogan and Putin also discussed diplomatic steps currently being taken by Russia and Türkiye aimed at stopping the bloodshed and ensuring the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, the Kremlin added.

ALSO READ: Palestinian spokesperson: Total collapse of health system in Gaza

Palestinians rescue a survivor of Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Nusseirat refugee camp, Oct 24, 2023. (PHOTO/AP)

Meanwhile, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks and called for regional efforts to stop the conflict, according to a statement released by the Amiri Diwan, the sovereign body and the administrative office of the Emir.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon urged on Tuesday a de-escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border

During a meeting of the Shura Council, Qatar's legislative body, the Emir voiced his objection to giving Israel "an unconditional green light and free license to kill" and ignoring the reality of occupation, siege and settlement.

The Emir stressed that cutting off water and denying access to medicine and food should not be used as weapons against an entire population.

He called for regional and international efforts to put an end to the dangerous escalation of tension, which he said had threatened the security of the region and the world.

"We call for an end to this war that has transcended all limits, to stop the bloodshed, spare the civilians the consequences of military confrontations, and prevent the circle of conflict from spilling over," he added.

The emir emphasized that "the only way to guarantee security and stability for the two peoples is to secure Palestinians' access to all their legitimate rights approved by international organizations, including the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital."

According to Al Jazeera reports, Qatar has been at the forefront of mediation efforts between the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel, including the release of hostages. Following Qatar's mediation, two American hostages were released by Hamas on Oct 20, and two Israelis were released on Oct 23.

UN: Protection of civilians paramount

The ongoing conflict has so far killed nearly 5,800 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and more than 1,400 people in Israel. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the protection of civilians holds paramount importance in any armed conflicts.

"Protecting civilians can never mean using them as human shields," the UN chief told the Security Council open debate on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. "Protecting civilians does not mean ordering more than 1 million people to evacuate to the south, where there is no shelter, no food, no water, no medicine and no fuel, and then continuing to bomb the south itself."

Guterres voiced deep concern over "the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza."

"Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law," he said.

The UN chief said the situation "is growing more dire by the hour," repeating his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. 

ALSO READ: Ministry: Death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza nears 5,800

Civilian evacuation

On Tuesday, Brazil will help evacuate South Americans stranded in the Middle East by the Gaza crisis, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced.

During his weekly program "Talk with the President," Lula said he has spoken with Air Force commander Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno about the operation to bring home residents from other parts of South America trapped by the crisis.

"I told Damasceno: if when we finish bringing back Brazilians, there are men and women from Latin America, from South America, who cannot return to our continent, we will be supportive and we will bring those people back also. That is Brazil's role in the world," he said.

To date, the Brazilian Air Force has brought back to Brazil 1,413 people and 53 pets aboard eight flights.

Some 30 Brazilians in the Gaza Strip, who must leave the area through the border with Egypt, are still waiting to be rescued, but the operation has been delayed due to an "impasse" between the authorities.

An Israeli man wearing a prayer shawl prays next to houses destroyed by Hamas militants in Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel, Oct 22, 2023. (PHOTO/AP)

Lebanese-Israeli border clash

Fighting also continued along Israel's northern border with Lebanon. UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon urged on Tuesday a de-escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border.

Joanna Wronecka, meanwhile, extended the United Nations' unwavering support for Lebanon to safeguard its security and stability during a critical time, according to her statement issued on the UN website.

Noting that "the primary objective of the 193-member United Nations, as enshrined in the UN Charter, is to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war," she said "the risks to peace and security are rising for Lebanon and the region, but we should never give up on the prospects of peace and of promoting a more sustainable future for the people of Lebanon."

Wronecka expressed her deep concern over the fire exchanges on the Lebanon-Israel border, calling for a halt to violence in the area.

"It is more urgent than ever for hostilities to cease and for Security Council Resolution 1701 to be implemented in its entirety," she said.

Also on Tuesday, Aroldo Lazaro, head of mission and force commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, said the UN peacekeepers continued to carry out patrols in local communities of southern Lebanon in coordinating with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

"We have actively engaged with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line to de-escalate tensions and avoid misunderstandings," he noted.

ALSO READ: Hamas releases 2 Israeli hostages as more aid reaches Gaza

Separately, Israel allocated 1 billion shekels (about $246 million) to rehabilitate northern roads near the Lebanese border, the country's Ministry of Transport and Road Safety said in a statement on Tuesday.

The roads sustained significant damage as a result of the passage of heavy Israeli military vehicles, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, during the ongoing fighting between Israel and the Lebanese military group Hezbollah.

"The infrastructure must be in good condition, and as much as it endangers human life, it must be repaired immediately," Israel's Minister of Transport Miri Regev was quoted as saying in the statement.

She therefore directed the National Transport Infrastructure Company to formulate a plan to restore the roads under the allocated budget.

The minister noted that if necessary, additional sums would be allocated for the restoration of the damaged roads beyond the announced budget.