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Middle East conflict

Abbas thanks Putin for political support, aid to Gaza

The Palestinian leader pointed to "the need for intervening in order to stop the aggression of the Israeli forces of occupation" against the Palestinian people in the West Bank, including Jerusalem

CAIRO, December 22. /TASS/. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for political support and humanitarian aid to the population of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian leader’s office said in a statement.

"The president thanked Putin for the political support provided by Russia at all international forums and for the humanitarian aid that Russia is delivering to the Gaza Strip, as well as the decision to send a Russian field hospital," the WAFA news agency quoted the statement as saying.

The Palestinian leader pointed to "the need for intervening in order to stop the aggression of the Israeli forces of occupation" against the Palestinian people in the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

This aggression, Abbas said, is manifested in raids in Palestinian cities and camps, killings of civilians, and destruction of infrastructure. Also, he believes, it is necessary to stop Israeli attacks "on Islamic and Christian holy sites, ethnic cleansing and other crimes."

Abbas pointed to the need for an international conference on a political solution to the Palestinian problem. He said the State of Palestine "should be granted full membership in the United Nations and an international peace conference should be called to enforce a political solution within a specific timeframe and with international guarantees, including the establishment of a Palestinian state." Abbas also pointed out it was a must "to form a [Palestinian] government that will assume responsibilities in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, as well as in the Gaza Strip."

For his part, as WAFA reports, the Russian president expressed support for the Palestinian people in their striving for "freedom and independence in their independent Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy.".

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