Putin reaffirms Russia's support for Palestinian statehood
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Putin made mention of the nearly 40,000 Palestinian martyrs in Gaza and condemned the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, gestures during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, August 13, 2024. (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed deep concern for the Palestinian people during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, reiterating Russia's support for their aspiration to establish a fully-fledged state.
Despite the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Putin assured Abbas that Russia is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, particularly the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
During their meeting, Putin made mention of the nearly 40,000 Palestinian martyrs in Gaza and condemned the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe.
Abbas, on his part, praised Russia as a close ally and called for the UN Security Council, where Russia holds veto power, to intervene and halt Israeli actions deemed illegal by the UN.
🚨🇵🇸🇷🇺 JUST NOW: Palestinian President Abbas meets with President Putin in Russia. pic.twitter.com/0Qx6kDqnMp
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) August 13, 2024
Although Russia has maintained ties with both "Israel" and Palestine, it has increasingly highlighted the Palestinian plight, hosting Hamas delegations and criticizing Israeli actions.
Putin reaffirmed Russia's commitment to Palestinian statehood and humanitarian relief but did not introduce any new initiatives.
Read more: Russia says US should urge an end to Gaza blockade instead of pier
Russia has been actively involved in the Security Council's discussions regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, but its efforts have all been met by opposition on part of the US.
Recently, the US introduced a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, but the proposal was vetoed by both China and Russia for failing to ensure an unconditional and permanent ceasefire.
One of the key points of contention was the language of the resolution, which only "determined the imperative" of a ceasefire without issuing a clear mandate.
The Russian mission to the UN characterized the document as embodying "past distortions and unacceptable one-sided 'condemnations'," labeling it as "standard American deception."
