Warning that the Israel-Hamas Conflict Could Spread Outside the Middle East, President White: It's Our Duty to Stop the Bloodshed

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned the Israel-Hamas conflict could spread far beyond the Middle East, criticizing the collective punishment of innocent women, children and the elderly in Gaza.

President Putin said this in a Kremlin meeting with leaders of various religions in Russia, saying that the bloodshed in the region must stop.

President Putin said he had told other world leaders by telephone that if this was not done, there was a risk of a bigger fire.

"Our task today, our main task, is to stop bloodshed and violence," said President Putin, according to a transcript of the Kremlin meeting, reported by Reuters, October 26.

"Otherwise, the escalation of this crisis will have very dangerous and destructive consequences. And not only in the Middle East region. This crisis could spread beyond the borders of the Middle East," President Putin warned.

In his statement criticizing Western countries, he said certain unnamed powers were trying to provoke further escalation, drawing as many other countries and peoples into the conflict as possible.

The goal, he said, was to "launch a real wave of chaos and mutual hatred not only in the Middle East but also far beyond its borders. For this purpose, among other things, they are trying to play on the national and religious feelings of millions of people."

Furthermore, President Putin expressed his condolences to the families of Israelis and other citizens killed or injured by Hamas in the bloody attack on October 7.

However, he emphasized that he thought Israel was wrong because it continued to bomb Gaza in retaliation for the massacre and hostage-taking of Israeli citizens by Hamas.

"It is also clear to us that innocent people should not be held responsible for crimes committed by others," President Putin explained.

"The fight against terrorism cannot be fought on the well-known principle of collective responsibility when the elderly, women, children, entire families and hundreds of thousands of people are left without shelter, food, water, electricity and medical care," he stressed.

Moscow, he added, continues to advocate a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, which he says is the only way to achieve a long-term settlement.