MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the situation in the Gaza Strip is a “humanitarian catastrophe”, reported Anadolu Agency (AA).
Speaking at a meeting in Moscow with representatives of different religions, Putin said “innocent people must not pay for crimes committed by others”.
The president opposed the principle of “collective responsibility”, saying in this case the casualties are the elderly, women, children and entire families.
Putin reiterated Russia’s position on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, arguing that “this is the key to a long-term and fundamental settlement and peace in the Middle East”.
“The main task is to stop the bloodshed and violence. Otherwise, a further expansion of the crisis is fraught with grave and extremely dangerous, destructive consequences, and not only for the Middle East region. This could spill far beyond the borders of the Middle East,” he warned.
He decried attempts by “some forces” to play on religious and national feelings to create instability and chaos for their “venal interests”. – Bernama
