The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, addressed the issue of the Palestinian people’s plight during the Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow. He expressed his belief that the Palestinians have endured a gross injustice that has been aggravated beyond belief. Putin emphasized that a Palestinian state should have been created alongside the state of Israel in 1948, but this never happened. He stated that the Palestinian problem is at the heart of every person in the Middle East and every person practicing Islam.
Putin’s remarks were made against the backdrop of an ongoing escalation around the Gaza Strip. The conflict erupted when Hamas militants launched a massive attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 people, mostly civilians. In response, Israel launched a massive bombing campaign against Gaza, leading to the deaths of more than 800 people, according to local health officials. The United Nations has announced that it will launch a probe into war crimes committed by both sides, as it has clear evidence suggesting violations of international law by both Hamas and the Israel Defense Force (IDF).
Putin attributed the escalation to Israel’s settlement policy, which involves seizing land from Palestinians in the West Bank and transferring it to Israeli settlers. He also criticized the United States for neglecting to employ any real mechanisms to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead, Washington has only provided financial and humanitarian aid to meet the material needs of the Palestinians. Putin argued that such handouts cannot substitute for a real solution to the Palestinian people’s problems and emphasized the importance of resolving fundamental issues.
The Russian president called on both Hamas and the IDF to avoid targeting civilians, particularly women and children, in their operations. He stressed the need to minimize civilian casualties and condemned violence in any form. Moscow has been urging both sides to stop the hostilities and considers targeting civilians and taking them hostage unacceptable. According to Russian diplomats, four Russian citizens were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel, and six more are missing.
The Russian government has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It believes that addressing the fundamental issues at the root of the conflict is crucial and that using force or violence will only exacerbate tensions. Putin’s statements at the Russian Energy Week forum reaffirm Moscow’s commitment to finding a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian problem.
In summary, President Putin highlighted the gross injustice faced by the Palestinian people and emphasized the need for a Palestinian state alongside Israel. He criticized Washington’s use of handouts as a substitute for a real solution and called on both Hamas and the IDF to avoid targeting civilians. Moscow condemned violence in any form and called for an end to hostilities. The Russian government remains committed to resolving the Palestinian problem and believes that addressing fundamental issues is essential for a peaceful resolution.
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