Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his apprehensions regarding theescalating tensions between Israel and Hamas.
He urged the conflicting parties to engage in dialogue, emphasizing thatthe recent unexpected blow delivered by the Palestinian resistance group inTel Aviv had amplified the crisis.
Putin stressed the importance of preventing the conflict from spreadingfurther, as he believed it could have significant repercussions on theinternational landscape.
He advocated for a return to a negotiation process that would be agreeableto all parties, including the Palestinians. The 71-year-old leaderexpressed his hope that the situation would not escalate further, notingthat it began the previous Saturday when Hamas responded forcefully toIsrael’s long-standing aggression.
The Israeli strikes in Gaza, under Hamas control, resulted in the loss ofover 1,000 Palestinian lives, while the death toll on the Israeli sidereached 1,200. Putin emphasized the need for diplomacy as the means to findsolutions and put an end to the ongoing hostilities.
He also mentioned that a barrage of rockets was launched from Gaza towardsIsrael on October 10, 2023.
Russia has traditionally maintained amicable relations with bothPalestinians and Israeli authorities, although ties with Jerusalem havebeen strained due to Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine initiated inFebruary of the previous year.
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While Western nations condemned Palestinian attacks, Russia has beencautious in denouncing violence from both sides.
Furthermore, Putin pointed out that the current situation in the MiddleEast could be attributed to the failures of U.S. foreign policy.
He expressed Russia’s willingness to mediate in the present circumstances,acknowledging the challenges associated with such mediation given thegravity of the situation.
In a previous statement, Putin advocated for “the creation of anindependent sovereign Palestinian state.”