Putin: Russia knows what international terrorism is

In Russia they know what international terrorism is, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with representatives of religious associations of the Russian Federation.

According to him, Russians will always be bitter about the losses suffered over the years of countering international terrorism.

“Russia has experienced and knows what international terrorism is. We know what it is,” he said.

Putin also said that Russia’s position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is not opportunistic in nature, and expressed condolences to the families of Israelis and foreigners whose loved ones died during the Hamas attack on October 7. Putin also thanked the heads of religious organizations for their support of the Russian Armed Forces.

On the morning of October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. At the same time, organized groups of Hamas fighters began to penetrate into Israeli territory, who easily overcame the first line of defense of the Israeli army, took hostages and caused serious damage. Israel later launched Operation Iron Swords, attacking the Gaza Strip and cutting off all supplies of water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel.

At the moment, the number of deaths from Israeli army strikes in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 6,500, including 20 Russian citizens, and the number of wounded has exceeded 17,000. The death toll in Israel was about 1.3 thousand. In addition, Hamas militants may be holding up to 150 Israelis hostage.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop all hostilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a resolution to this crisis is possible only on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, that is, the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.