Russia’s Lavrov warns of regional spillover from Gaza crisis

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• “In my view it is unacceptable,” said Putin of Israel’s air campaign in Gaza. “More than 2 million people live there [in Gaza]. Far from all of them support Hamas by the way, far from all. But all of them have to suffer, including women and children.”

• Moscow offered a delayed statement affirming Israel’s right to defend itself after Hamas’s attack, which also killed at least 16 Russian citizens, but denounced Israel for responding with “cruel methods”.

• In his first public statement on the crisis on October 10, the Russian president pointed the finger at the United States for playing a “destructive” role saying the conflict is a “vivid example” of Washington’s failed policy.

• Russia, which supports an independent Palestinian state with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital, has not labelled Hamas a “terrorist” group like many Western states