Putin said he was following the conflict in the Holy Land with concern.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was following with concern the unfolding conflict in the Holy Land, which has already claimed thousands of lives. He said this at meeting with representatives of religious associations in the Catherine Hall of the Kremlin.

“We are all following with alarm and pain in our hearts the tragic situation in the Holy Land, which has sacred significance for Christians, Muslims, and Jews <...> A new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has claimed thousands of lives,” he said.

Russia, the president emphasized, knows first-hand what international terrorism is and will always feel the bitterness of the losses incurred in the fight against it.

“I want to express my condolences to the families of Israelis and citizens of other countries whose loved ones were killed or injured during the attack on October 7. But it is also obvious to us that innocent people should not be held accountable for the crimes of others. The fight against terrorism cannot be carried out according to the notorious principle of collective responsibility,” Putin is confident.

With this approach, he emphasized, old people, women and children die, and hundreds of thousands lose their homes. “This is a real humanitarian disaster,” the president said. Russia’s position on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is based on decisions of the UN Security Council, which provide for the creation of two independent states: Israel and Palestine.

“This is the key to a long-term, fundamental settlement, to peace in the Middle East. This is the traditional position of the Soviet Union, and then of Russia,” the head of state noted.

Otherwise, the conflict could expand, including beyond the Middle East, Putin warned.

On the morning of October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel. The country’s defense army responded by launching Operation Iron Swords, striking hundreds of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government announced that the country had entered a state of war. As a result of the fighting, according to the latest data, about 6,500 people were killed, including more than 5,000 from the Gaza Strip. During the fighting, 23 Russian citizens were killed and four were missing.

President Putin previously said that Israel was subjected to an unprecedented attack by Hamas and has the right to protection. He expressed hope for the end of the conflict and negotiations between the parties. The president has also repeatedly called for the creation of an independent Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.