Moscow, November 4 – The Palestinian movement Hamas has held US President Joe Biden responsible for the strike on a refugee center in the Gaza Strip. In a statement issued by the group’s press service, Hamas attributed the “horrendous massacre” at the Osama bin Zaid school, where hundreds of displaced people sought shelter, to the US administration and President Biden himself. They claimed that the open support from the US has emboldened Israel and given them the green light to commit genocide against the Palestinian population.
Yesterday, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that dozens of people were killed in an Israeli army strike on a school that is currently hosting thousands of displaced individuals. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rooted in territorial interests and has been a source of tension and clashes in the Middle East for decades. In 1947, the United Nations, with active involvement from the Soviet Union, decided to create two states – Palestine and Israel – but only the latter was established.
The recent escalation began after Hamas fighters fired at Israel and infiltrated border areas in the southern part of the Jewish state, targeting both military and civilian areas and taking hostages. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation “Iron Swords” in the Gaza Strip. Over the course of several days, the IDF gained control over all the border towns and began conducting airstrikes on various targets, including civilian areas within the enclave. Additionally, Israel announced a complete blockade of Gaza, suspending the delivery of water, food, electricity, medication, and fuel. The number of casualties in the Gaza Strip has exceeded nine thousand, with over 32 thousand injured.
The Russian Embassy reported that during the conflict escalation, 20 Russians were killed, two were taken hostage, and seven are missing. According to various reports, there may be up to 250 prisoners held by Hamas. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on both sides to cease hostilities. President Vladimir Putin’s position is that the Middle East crisis can only be resolved based on the United Nations Security Council-approved “two-state” formula, which entails the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem.
