Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that the current escalation between Israel and Palestine poses a direct threat to “Russia’s security.”
During a meeting with the Russian Security Council, Putin said the escalated Palestinian-Israeli conflict "this is happening in the immediate vicinity of our borders and directly affects our security interests.”
This came as amid a rise in tensions since an Israeli court ordered the eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
Palestinians protesting in solidarity with residents of Sheikh Jarrah have been targeted by Israeli forces.
The escalation resulted in airstrikes by Israel on Gaza, which has left hundreds dead and wounded.
Russian observers said that Moscow might have made proposals regarding the Middle East during the Security Council meeting.
It also seems that Moscow pins high hopes on the meeting of the Quartet for the Middle East, which includes Russia, the EU, the US, and the US.
Putin and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday jointly voiced concern over the escalation.
"Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the Quartet for the Middle East, in cooperation with regional and international structures, continues to seek a comprehensive and sustainable settlement in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
