Russia says US prevents finding solution in Palestine
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Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister accuses the United States of preventing any solution to the ongoing "dramatic, severe crisis" in Palestine as it monopolized it.
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Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine, October 16, 2023 (AP)
In a government meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov voiced strong criticism of the United States for prioritizing its interests amid an unfolding "dramatic, severe crisis."
Ryabkov emphasized the responsibility that the United States carries for the entire situation, citing its attempts to monopolize any attempt to resolve it while disregarding relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
During the meeting on Monday, Ryabkov stated, "The United States, which bears the main responsibility for this dramatic, severe crisis, since this country has tried for many years to monopolize the settlement and ignore the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, is now preventing a proper solution."
Ryabkov's comments came against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the region, with the Israeli occupation continuously shelling Gaza and killing thousands of Palestinians, many of whom are children.
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister did not mince words when describing the Israeli military aggression, labeling it as "indiscriminate".
Russia's UNSC resolution
Moscow, meanwhile, is taking an active approach toward the situation, with Ryabkov revealing that Russia has submitted a draft humanitarian resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) specifically addressing the aggression taking place.
The proposed resolution aims to bring much-needed relief to the Palestinian people amid a stifling Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip as it gets brutally shelled by "Tel Aviv".
"The territory of this enclave [the Gaza Strip] and the residents who are there have actually been faced with a humanitarian catastrophe, neither medical assistance nor other needs are provided," the Russian top diplomat stressed.
"This is all causing great concern in the world. Russia is making maximum efforts in the political sphere, we have just said this, including through the UN Security Council, we have submitted a draft resolution focused on humanitarian issues," Ryabkov underlined.
Russia's UN envoy said the proposed UNSC draft by Moscow's UN mission is more suitable to the needs of the people in Gaza because it is purely humanitarian and does not contain political language.
"We are convinced that our draft better meets the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Gaza and doesn’t contain political elements that could divide members of the UNSC and affect its role in the settlement of the crisis," Dmitry Polyankiy said on X.
Water crisis
The water shortage in Gaza has worsened due to a comprehensive Israeli blockade that severely limits the inflow of freshwater into the world's biggest open-air prison.
"Israel" maintains control over water sources in the area and has effectively denied Gazans access to clean and safe drinking water. Consequently, a burgeoning crisis is underway, marked by acute water scarcity for everyday needs and sanitation. This dire predicament is placing significant strain on the population, impacting their well-being and overall living conditions amid ongoing genocide.
At UN shelters throughout Gaza, water supplies have been depleted. Thousands have crowded into the courtyard of the largest hospital in the besieged region, seeking refuge as a last resort in anticipation of an Israeli ground invasion.
Overwhelmed doctors are facing difficulties in caring for patients, with the looming threat that patients may not survive once the hospital's generators run out of fuel. It is worth noting that there is no safe place in Gaza as "Israel" bombed residential buildings, homes, UN facilities, schools, and even hospitals.
"Israel" has disrupted the supply of essential resources, including food, medicine, water, and electricity, to Gaza. They have carried out hysteric airstrikes on residential areas and mandated the forced displacement of approximately 1 million residents in the northern part of Gaza in anticipation of an Israeli ground invasion.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the ongoing Israeli aggression that commenced last weekend has led to the deaths of over 2,750 Palestinians, a majority of whom are children and women.
Russia calls for a Palestinian state
The Russian sentiment toward the crisis comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that Russia hopes everyone will take seriously the obligation to implement the decisions of the UN Security Council to "establish a Palestinian state" based on the principles that have been endorsed in the UN once the present confrontations come to an end.
The Russian Foreign Minister said, "We will see whether it will be possible to agree on a common position for its official presentation before the summit," adding that "everyone is of the same opinion — and we discussed this today in a narrow format — that it is necessary to put an immediate end to this conflict, to respect international humanitarian law, and to prevent any manifestations of terrorist actions and the indiscriminate use of force, which can and has already affected a huge number of civilians on both sides."
Lavrov also underscored that "for many decades, the United Nations' decision to establish a Palestinian State has been sabotaged," and then explained that "first of all, by the United States, which wants to monopolize, to usurp mediation efforts, and is trying to push aside Russia, the United Nations and the European Union."
In the press brief, Lavrov also highlighted that not only is the US attempting to maintain its monopolization on regional mediations, but that Washington has been further "disrupting the work of the quartet of international mediators, which includes Russia, the United States, the UN, and the European Union."
