TEL AVIV, October 27. /TASS/. Attempts to accuse Russia of supporting terrorism in the context of Moscow’s interaction in the Middle East are unacceptable and the Russian side condemns any violence against civilians on any side, the Russian Embassy in Israel said in a statement.
"Position of Russia is consistent, remains unchanged and has been repeatedly confirmed at all levels. We strongly condemn the use of terrorist methods, including the killing of civilians, taking hostage women, the elderly and children, who must be released. We consider unacceptable the manifestation of violence in any form against the civilian population, no matter what side it is on," the statement said.
"We find absolutely unacceptable any attempts to accuse us of supporting terrorism and thereby distort and erode our fundamental approaches as well as cast doubt on the purposeful work of our country to solve primary humanitarian tasks that meet the interests of the citizens of Russia, Israel, Palestine and other countries," the embassy stressed.
A day earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that representatives from the Palestinian movement Hamas were visiting Moscow. The Hamas delegation met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who also serves as special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Syria. Among other things, they discussed releasing hostages and evacuating Russians from the Gaza Strip.
Israel sharply condemned this visit and demanded that Moscow expel the Hamas delegation claiming that this visit "is an act of support of terrorism, and legitimizes the atrocities of Hamas terrorists."
In turn, the Russian Embassy noted that "Russia's contacts and actions in the Middle East and in international organizations are focused primarily on the immediate release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, as well as resolving issues related to ensuring the evacuation of Russian and other foreign citizens from its territory." "The main goal now is to cease fire and stop the bloodshed, the victims of which have already become thousands of innocent people, including citizens of our country. The fate of many is still unknown," the diplomatic mission stressed.
Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when militants from the Gaza-based Palestinian radical group Hamas staged a surprise incursion into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. In response, Israel has announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, and has begun delivering air strikes on the enclave and certain parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are underway in the West Bank as well.
According to the latest official data, over 7,000 Palestinians have been killed since the renewed outbreak of violence, while almost 18,500 have suffered wounds. In Israel, more than 1,400 people have lost their lives and over 5,200 have been wounded.