Putin draws parallel between Israelis sieging Gaza, Leningrad siege

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Oct 2023 23:10
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Putin's recent remarks insinuated a comparison between "Israel" and Nazi Germany.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the media after the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. (Pavel Bednyakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

During a summit in Kyrgyzstan on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned "Israel" against implementing a siege on Gaza reminiscent of the Leningrad siege by Nazi Germany.

He expressed concerns that a ground offensive in Gaza would result in an unacceptably high number of civilian casualties.

The Russian President acknowledged the severe nature of the Palestinian resistance operation that "Israel" faced from Hamas but questioned "Israel's" response methods.

"I hear some say that there may be military and nonmilitary measures taken against Gaza, similar to the blockade of Leningrad during World War II. We understand where that goes, and this is unacceptable." Putin told reporters.

"More than 2 million people live there. Far from all of them support Hamas by the way, far from all. But all of them have to suffer, including women and children. Of course, it's hard for anyone to agree with this."

His critique of "Israel" carried weight due to the reference to the Leningrad siege from 1941 to 1944.

The Siege of Leningrad stands as one of the darkest chapters of World War II, when German and Finnish forces, under the command of Nazi German leader Adolf Hitler, besieged the city of Leningrad in the Soviet Union. The attack resulted in an estimated 1.2 million casualties, including 140,000 children, over approximately 842 days.

The implied comparison between "Israel" and Nazi Germany, which could be deeply offensive to "Israel", made his remarks even more pointed.

Putin however affirmed "Israel's" purported right to self-defense.

PUTIN: "I hear some say that there may be military and non military measures taken against Gaza, similar to the blockade of Leningrad during World War II. We understand where that goes, and this is unacceptable." pic.twitter.com/9b6Y1Bpt7Y
— COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) October 13, 2023

According to a report made by US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh yesterday, an Israeli national security veteran said that "Israel" is pondering whether to use a "Leningrad approach" to starve out "Hamas forces" in Gaza and avoid an invasion, something the source said may lead to the murder of nearly 100,000 civilians.

The Israeli source told Hersh that “The big debate today … is whether to starve Hamas out or kill as many as 100,000 people in Gaza,” adding that, “Hamas now only has a two or three-day supply of purified water and that, along with a lack of food … may be enough to flush all the Hamas [forces] out.”

Absolutely unacceptable

He spoke following "Israel's" military announcement, urging over 1 million civilians in Gaza City to move south within 24 hours.

This move coincided with the massing of tanks in preparation for an anticipated ground invasion in response to Hamas' significant attack on Saturday.

Putin expressed that a ground assault would result in "serious consequences for all sides."

"And most importantly, the civilian casualties will be absolutely unacceptable. Now the main thing is to stop the bloodshed," he said.

Potential mediation

Putin has called for negotiations in the Middle East, emphasizing Moscow's readiness to cooperate with all constructive parties.

He highlighted that a key resolution to the conflict lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Russia believes it can play a mediation role due to its relationships with various regional actors, including "Israel," Palestine, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and major Arab nations.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov recently engaged with ambassadors from "Israel," Lebanon, and Iran, and the foreign ministry confirmed that Moscow's communication with Hamas would persist.

Drawing parallels

Recent events in the Middle East have led both Moscow and Kiev to draw parallels between the situation there and the conflict in Ukraine.

Ukraine has likened Moscow to Hamas, while Russia has criticized the West for its perceived bias in supporting "Israel" while overlooking the Palestinian plight.

"More than a million people from Gaza must urgently evacuate... at the demand of the Israeli army. Yet all the 'Western partners' are shamefully silent," former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

"I wonder what their reaction would be to a similar demand to the Kiev regime to evacuate one of (its) major cities?"