WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 The United States believes that Hamas does not represent the interests of the Palestinian people and does not reflect their aspirations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with the Japanese television channel NHK.
“Hamas is not the Palestinian people, they do not represent the Palestinian people and their aspirations,” Blinken said. In his assessment, Hamas “exploits ideology,” and therefore “lasting peace and security can only be achieved through the creation of a better and stronger ideology.”
“It is obvious that for the United States and for many other countries this (new — ed.) the idea should lead to the creation of a Palestinian state, so that ultimately Palestinians and Israelis have the right to live in their own states, where they would have equal opportunity, security and self-dignity,” said the US Secretary of State.
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On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters entered the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to local authorities, more than 1.4 thousand people were killed, including 300 military personnel, and more than 5 thousand were injured.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped.
The death toll in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip exceeded 10.5 thousand, and more than 26 thousand people were injured. The Russian Embassy reported that during the escalation of the conflict, 20 Russians were killed, two were taken hostage, and seven were listed as missing. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The movement itself stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible exclusively on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict related to territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and fighting in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.