President Putin Calls Crisis In Gaza Due To The Failure Of US Policy In The Middle East

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin said the explosion of violence between Israel and Palestine showed the failure of the United States' policies in the Middle East and did not consider the needs of the Palestinian people.

"I think a lot of people will agree with me, this is a real example of the failure of the United States' policies in the Middle East," President Putin said on the sidelines of talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani who visited Russia.

President Putin said Washington was trying to "polize" efforts to create peace, accusing it of failing to reach a compromise that could be done.

Furthermore, he said, the United States has neglected the interests of the Palestinian people, including their need for an independent Palestinian state.

President Putin did not mention Russia's role in the Middle East peace process, where together with the US, United Nations and the European Union, they formed a quartet that aids Israel-Palestinian mediation.

"However, whatever happens there, losses to civilians must be minimized and reduced to zero. We call on all parties in conflict to do so," President Putin said.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was in contact with the two warring sides, trying to play a role in resolving the conflict, but not specifying how, immediately warning the conflict was at risk of spreading to other regions.

"However, we intend to continue to make efforts and play our role in providing assistance in finding ways of resolving," Peskov said.

It is known that since the Hamas attack on Israel last Saturday, thousands of people have been killed and thousands injured, while hundreds more have been held hostage.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington said the death toll from the Hamas attack on weekends had surpassed 1,000 people. Meanwhile, Gaza's Ministry of Health said Israel's retaliatory airstrikes had killed at least 830 people and injured 4,250 people as of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said Israeli attacks since Saturday had destroyed more than 22,600 housing units and 10 health facilities and damaged 48 schools.

Separately, the United Nations said more than 180,000 Gazans had lost their homes, many of whom had gathered on the street or at school.