Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war objective to destroy Hamas in Gaza as a precondition for a ceasefire is unachievable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday.

“Israel, through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said in response to calls for a ceasefire that it would not stop until it completely eliminates Hamas,” Lavrov told reporters towards the end of a visit to Malaysia, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

“In my opinion, and many of my colleagues share this point of view, it is an unrealistic task to eradicate the organization which exists, which has enough capabilities and enough support, including in the Muslim world,” the minister said.

He also expressed support for the Palestinian cause and promised to “continue to help restore the Palestinian unity.”

Israel-Russian relations have deteriorated since the outbreak of the current Gaza war.

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Israel’s campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip amounted to genocide, taking up a slander spread by the Jewish state’s worst enemies.

“What is currently happening in Gaza in response to the terrorist attack on Israel does not resemble a war at all. It is akin to the complete elimination of the civilian population,” said the Russian leader.

Russia invited a Hamas delegation to visit Moscow less than two weeks after the Hamas attack on Israel

Israel’s Foreign Ministry denounced the visit.

“Israel condemns the invitation of senior Hamas officials to Moscow, which is an act of support of terrorism and legitimizes the atrocities of Hamas terrorists. We call on the Russian government to expel the Hamas terrorists immediately,” the ministry said.