MOSCOW, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli strikes on the Qatari capital Doha are leading to further destabilization in the Middle East region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

"We regard it as a gross violation of international law, primarily the UN Charter," Lavrov said at a ministerial meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Russian city of Sochi.

Lavrov said that the strikes had resulted in a sharp escalation of military and political tensions in the Middle East, and that Russia had received news of the action with deep concern.

"Such actions, without a doubt, deserve the most resolute condemnation," said Lavrov.

On Tuesday, Israel launched an unprecedented airstrike on Doha, targeting a building used by senior Hamas officials in what Israeli authorities described as an attempt to kill leaders of the Palestinian group.

Hamas said later that the strike occurred while its delegation was discussing a new ceasefire proposal presented by Washington. According to the group, the negotiating team survived, but six others were killed. ■