Putin calls for Palestinian support despite Hamas victory

The Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the west against cutting aid to the Palestinians on the background of Hamas winning of the Palestinian legislative elections.

Putin explained that despite these results, the international community should continue its support for the Palestinians.

In a press conference he held in Moscow, Putin considered that "refusing to give aid to the Palestinians will be a mistake by all means." But he described Hamas winning of the elections as a "strong beating" for the efforts made by Washington to reach a peaceful settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

He explained that Russia's position towards the Middle East is different from the American and European position, noting that his country did not announce Hamas as a terrorist organization, noting that this does not mean Russia supports or backs all what is done by the Islamic resistance movement.

The Russian president called on Hamas to get involved in a peaceful solution and to give up what he described as extremist statements, and to admit Israel's right to exist and to start making contacts with the international community.