BISHKEK: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that civilian casualties would be “completely unacceptable” in the event of an Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at a meeting of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) heads of state in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, Putin said deploying heavy military equipment in residential areas carries significant risks for all parties involved, but conducting an operation without it presents its own set of risks and challenges.
The Russian leader accused the US of the current escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, saying that Washington tried to solve a political problem, namely the creation of a Palestinian state, with the help of certain measures of economic stimulation.
“The current escalation is a direct result of the failed US policy in the Middle East… The United States tried to monopolize the Middle East settlement,” Putin emphasized.
He said Washington had blocked the work of the Middle East Quartet, a group created by Russia, the EU, the United Nations, and the US to deal with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
“All this gradually led to today’s deterioration. We will talk about it in an informal meeting,” he said.
Putin also reiterated that Russia is ready to act as a mediator in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement.
Israeli Forces Launch Military Operation in Gaza Strip
In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and heavy-handed military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel.
Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for an attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increasing Israeli settler violence against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli response extended to cutting off water and electricity supplies to Gaza, which has been under a crippling siege since 2007.
