Russian President Vladimir Putin has attributed the ongoing Middle East crisis, which was incited by the surprise incursion of the Palestinian militant group Hamas into southern Israel over the past weekend, to the United States government.
In his remarks on Tuesday regarding the conflict, Putin asserted that this crisis underscores the United States’ perceived inability to effectively manage and resolve conflicts, as reported by RT.
The Russian leader said, “I believe many would agree with me that it is a glaring example of the failures of the US Middle East policies. They tried to monopolize the peace settlement, but unfortunately paid no attention to searching for compromises that would be acceptable for both parties.”
Instead, Washington put pressure on both sides in an attempt to impose its own solutions on them, he added. The US “never took into account the core interests of the Palestinian people,” Putin claimed.
Those interests primarily involve the creation of an independent Palestinian nation-state, as outlined in resolutions of the UN Security Council, he noted.
Putin made the remarks during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani in Moscow. The Russian president said he believed the two nations were united in prioritizing the minimization of harm done to civilians by both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Other senior Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, had previously blamed the US for the renewed hostilities. The top Russian diplomat suggested on Monday that the so-called quartet of Middle East mediators – which includes the US, Russia, the EU and the UN – should take a leading role in peace talks.
The US, he said, had sidelined this mechanism to “monopolize” the process for its own benefit.
Hamas, a group based in Gaza, launched a surprise assault on Israeli territory on Saturday. They overwhelmed Israel’s air defenses with extensive rocket barrages and conducted a swift raid that resulted in civilian casualties and the taking of hostages, with the intention of using them as bargaining chips for prisoners held by Israel.
In response, Israel initiated a military operation targeting Gaza, with the stated objective of eradicating Hamas. The Gaza Strip, a narrow coastal region inhabited by approximately 2 million people, has endured the consequences of an Israeli blockade that has been in effect since 2007, significantly impacting the daily lives of its residents.
The United States has affirmed its commitment to providing military support to Israel and has urged other nations to denounce Hamas for its actions. In contrast, Moscow has unequivocally condemned all acts of violence against civilians, irrespective of the party responsible, and has advocated for a genuine reconciliation based on a two-state solution as the ultimate resolution to the conflict, emphasizing that combating extremism is no substitute for this long-term solution.
