Putin: Russia can help mediate between Israel and Palestine

Russia can help mediate between Israel and Palestine due to long-standing relations with both countries; no one will suspect Moscow of “playing along” with one side or the other. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this at a meeting with journalists in Kyrgyzstan.

“Russia – maybe due to the fact that we have developed good relations with Israel over the last, say, 15 years. Well, traditional relations with Palestine. Therefore, no one will suspect us of wanting to play along with someone. If anyone needs our mediation. This is always done only on the basis of agreements between the parties,” Putin explained.

According to the head of state, Israel is faced with an unprecedented attack, which has never happened in history, not only in scale, but also in the nature of its execution and cruelty.

“What can I say, we need to call things by their proper names – Israel is responding on a large scale and also using quite cruel methods. Of course, we understand the logic of events. But despite all the bitterness on both sides, I believe that, of course, we need to think about the civilian population,” Putin emphasized.

Putin also called the possible cessation of supplies of food and electricity to Gaza unacceptable (the day before, American journalist Seymour Hersh compared such actions with the blockade of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War).

“More than two million people live there, and not all of them support Hamas, by the way. Should everyone suffer? Including women and children? Well, of course, hardly anyone will agree with this,” the president added.

On October 7, the Hamas group began military operations against Israel. The militants attacked the army’s border units, entered Israeli populated areas and took hostages from both military and civilians. The Israel Defense Forces announced the launch of Operation Iron Swords, and the Israeli government announced that the country had entered a state of war.

The death toll in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has already exceeded 2,800 people. 1,300 people died on the Israeli side, and more than 1,500 on the Palestinian side.