Khabib Nurmagomedov, the Russian former MMA fighter who was the first Muslim to win a UFC title, has shared a message of support for the Palestinian people amid the fighting in the Middle East.
On Monday, the Dagestan-born former lightweight champion shared a post with his 35 million Instagram followers that featured a prayer for Allah to defend those who cannot defend themselves. The message included emojis of raised open palms – a gesture of supplication in Islam – the Palestinian flag and a heart, but no other content.
Fellow Russian MMA star Khamzat Chimaev, who was born in the Chechen Republic and is based in Sweden, has also reportedly posted a graphics-only message of support. His picture, as shared by Russian media, included the outline of the land of Palestine, with the Palestinian flag and a drawing of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Old Jerusalem.
Israel is retaliating for the deadly incursion and hostage-taking raid conducted last weekend by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Its military has fully blockaded Gaza, where the organization’s power base is located, denying its two million residents access to electricity or water. The stated Israeli goal is to fully destroy Hamas “terrorist infrastructure” in the area.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya and an influential figure in the Russian Muslim community, has urged pressure on Israel, so that it exercises restraint.
“Create a coalition and call on those who you call friends, Europe and the entire world, so that [the Israelis] do not bomb peaceful citizens under the pretext of destroying the militants,” he said on Monday, addressing the heads of Muslim nations.
The conflict stands out among other flare-ups in the region, because it can “turn into something bigger,” Kadyrov warned.
The Russian government has condemned violence against civilians regardless of who perpetrates it. President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday the crisis was evidence of failed diplomacy by the US. He argued that Washington was never concerned with the core interests of the Palestinian people.
Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory, firing a barrage of rockets and catching the IDF (Israeli Army) of guard. Israeli government launched operation Swords of Iron and invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law which de-facto implies a declaration of war.
Palestinian Hamas movement has achieved the goals of its operation in Israel and now it is open to any discussions, a member of the movement's political bureau, Mousa Abu Marzouq, said on Tuesday.
"We have achieved our goals ... We are open to any discussions and political dialogue," Abu Marzouq told regional broadcaster, adding that the movement is "not closed to negotiations."
Russia has called for a ceasefire and immediate peace talks, while stressing that the roots of the conflict must be understood.
According to the latest available data, the death toll from hostilities has risen to over 700 among Palestinians and roughly 1100 Israelis, with thousands of wounded from both sides.
Al-Rimal, Gaza's Most Prestigious Area, Devasted After Strike
Israeli airstrikes on Monday destroyed large parts of the Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City, leading to large internet and communications outages.
Israeli warplanes destroyed a number of buildings, including residential ones, flattening them to the ground, said an Anadolu correspondent.
The reporter said the fighter jets destroyed a Palestinian Telecommunications Company building, causing a widespread outage of communications and the internet.
Al-Shifa Medical Complex was also damaged in the airstrikes.
The intense airstrikes followed a statement by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in which he directed the army to intensify attacks on Gaza, according to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
Gaza-based resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.
Cyprus to Accommodate Evacuees from Israel
Cyprus has decided to make its territory available to foreign citizens evacuated from Israel, putting in place a special national plan, dubbed ESTIA, activated in case of emergency or crisis, the Cypriot Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
In light of the current security situation in Israel, Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos convened a meeting of the Ministerial Crisis Management Team on Tuesday that decided to "activate the Special National Plan ESTIA for the reception and repatriation of foreign citizens from an area in crisis, through the territory of the Republic of Cyprus," the ministry said in a statement.
Dozens of people with dual citizenship, including Russians, held hostage by Hamas
Dozens of Israelis with dual citizenship, including Russians and Chinese, are being held hostage by the radical Palestinian movement Hamas, the movement's spokesman Moussa Abu Marzouk told the Al Jazeera TV channel.
In response to a question about Hamas' willingness to discuss a ceasefire, he also said that Hamas is open to "all political dialogues."
Earlier, Al TV quoted the Palestinian movement as saying that Hamas had taken "dozens of people with dual citizenship" as hostages; the movement's spokesman did not specify which countries the Israelis captured by Hamas hold dual citizenship in.
Tensions in the Middle East escalated on October 7 with an attack by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on Israeli territory. According to the latest official figures, nearly 700 Palestinians were killed and over 3,700 wounded in clashes and shelling, while about 800 Israelis were killed and over 2,000 wounded.
Hamas said the attack was in retaliation for Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Israel has declared a state of war and a total blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The United States’ recent joint drills with NATO allies became unprecedented since the end of the Cold War era, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in his article on respecting the principles of the UN Charter.
"The series of joint drills held recently by the United States and its NATO allies in Europe, that included scenarios of the use of nuclear weapons against Russia, was unprecedented," Lavrov emphasized. He accused "irresponsible politicians" of being obsessed with their own impunity amid what he said was a total lack of the basic sense of self-preservation as they declared the task of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia.
Russia’s top diplomat recalled that Western leaders’ assurances that NATO would not expand eastward proved to be a deceit.
Lavrov highlights need to immediately end Israeli-Palestinian fighting
There is a need to end the Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
"Apart from ending the fighting and solving the problem of numerous civilian casualties that are being recorded, there is also a need to pay special attention to the reasons why it has been impossible to resolve the Palestinian issue for decades," the top Russian diplomat noted.
"We planned to discuss all aspects of our cooperation today, including the upcoming ministerial meetings between Russia and Arab League members, but the current rise in Israeli-Palestinian tensions, which has once again proved that the existing status quo in the conflict zone is no longer viable, required some changes in the agenda," Lavrov added.
Israeli-Palestinian escalation
Israel came under missile attack from the Gaza Strip on the morning of October 7. Simultaneously, several groups of militants infiltrated the Jewish state, engaging in fighting with Israeli forces.
The Israeli army declared a state of readiness for war and launched retaliatory actions dubbed Operation Iron Swords. Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian movement Hamas, described the Palestinian operation as a response to aggressive actions by the Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant authorized the callup of reservists and ordered that "the special security situation" be expanded nationwide. According to the latest data, about 500 Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of renewed tensions, while 2,700 have suffered wounds. In Israel, more than 700 people have lost their lives and over 2,200 have been wounded.
The crown prince stressed the Kingdom’s continuous stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights. (SPA/AFP)
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed the military escalation in Gaza and its surroundings and the deteriorating situation that threatens the lives of civilians and the security and stability of the region.
In a phone call, the crown prince reiterated that Saudi Arabia, in communication with all international and regional parties, is exerting all efforts to stop the ongoing escalation and prevent its expansion in the region, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to international humanitarian law and not targeting civilians.
He also stressed the Kingdom’s continuous stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, realize their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace, the Saudi Press Agency said Monday.
Abbas extended his thanks to the Kingdom’s leadership, appreciating its firm positions and efforts to stand with the Palestinian people and their just cause.
Arab foreign ministers to meet Wednesday on Gaza: Arab League
Arab League foreign ministers will meet Wednesday to discuss “Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip” following a surprise assault by Hamas on Israel, the regional bloc announced.
The “extraordinary meeting” in Cairo will seek to find “avenues of political action at the Arab and international level,” as Israel keeps pounding targets in Gaza following Saturday’s attack, Arab League deputy chief Hossam Zaki said in a statement.
The “extraordinary meeting” in Cairo will seek to find “avenues of political action at the Arab and international level,” as Israel keeps pounding targets in Gaza following Saturday’s attack, Arab League deputy chief Hossam Zaki said in a statement.
The head of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who visited Russia, after the Palestinian group Hamas launched a massive surprise attack, met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday.
Lavrov said that creating a Palestinian state was the “most reliable” solution for peace in Israel and that fighting terrorism alone would not ensure security.
The meeting will be held at the request of Palestine and headed by Morocco, the current president of the AL Council at the ministerial level, the pan-Arab body said in a statement.
Participants of the meeting are scheduled to discuss political action at the Arab and international levels to tackle the conflict, according to the AL.
The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.
Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that the death toll from Hamas' attack on southern Israel rose to more than 900.
The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday.
Ukraine launched its much-touted counteroffensive in early June, promising a quick victory on the battlefield. However, Kiev's troops ran into Russian defenses and minefields, suffering tremendous losses. In September, Vladimir Putin said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had failed.
Russia's Ministry of Defense has published footage that depicts the destruction of Ukraine's S-300 missile system. Earlier, the MoD reported that Russian air defense systems intercepted Tochka-U tactical missiles and two enemy S-200 anti-aircraft missiles. The latter were adjusted to destroy terrestrial targets.
In addition, the Russian Armed Forces took out a drone command center located in the Donetsk Republic and suppressed 25 Ukrainian drones through electronic warfare.
After an over-four-month-long stalling counteroffensive, Ukraine failed to achieve any meaningful goals on the battlefield and suffered tremendous losses.
Sputnik has obtained footage showing Russia's military decimating a building that served as a hub for Ukrainian militants outside Donetsk. The destruction of the foothold thwarted another counterattack by the enemy.
The Kiev regime launched its counteroffensive more than four months ago. The effort was endlessly touted by Ukrainian politicians, who promised to turn the tide on the battlefield with the help of Western military equipment.
Nonetheless, the ill-trained Ukrainian recruits came up against Russia's solid defenses and well-laid minefields, suffering tremendous losses in manpower and equipment.
Ukraine's Statement About Attempted Attacks on Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant a 'Cold Shower to UN'
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has previously pointed out that the Kiev regime seeks to set up a supposed nuclear hazard by continuing to target the Zaporozhye NPP.
"The confession made by a Ukrainian high-ranking official will be a cold shower for the UN," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with Russian media.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that the Zelensky regime sees the NPP as a "dirty bomb" and a kind of blackmail against Europe. The Russian Federation has provided comprehensive data about the Ukrainian shelling of the NPP on all nuclear security-focused platforms. Everything we have talked about will further be conclusively confirmed," she said.
Zakharova also stressed that UN representatives have repeatedly failed to identify where the strikes were coming from.
Earlier, it was reported that Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, acknowledged that Ukraine had indeed made several attempts to shell the Zaporozhye NPP. He was quoted by Ukrainian media as saying that ''Kiev had tried to capture the Zaporozhye NPP three times. However, their attempts proved futile as Russian troops repelled all attacks.''
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that a Ukrainian landing force unit had been destroyed while attempting to seize the Zaporozhye NPP on October 19, 2022. At the time, Ukrainian forces had deployed up to two companies of military personnel and 37 vessels. Russian warplanes eliminated 90 servicemen and 14 boats. Meanwhile, Ukraine used artillery to scatter the remaining soldiers through the Kakhovka dam.
The Russian Minister of Defense has repeatedly stressed that the Kiev regime was trying to create a supposed nuclear threat by continuing to target the Zaporozhye NPP. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has consistently emphasized the importance of creating a secure zone around the facility.
Russian MFA points to repeated calls about weapons supplied to Kiev going to black market
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has posted evidence on her Telegram channel of the Russian side's repeated appeals to the international community about weapons supplied by the West to Kiev showing up on the black market.
The diplomat posted excerpts from statements made at briefings from last March to the present day.
"For a year and a half, I have talked at official briefings at the Russian Foreign Ministry about how NATO, primarily US weapons supplied to [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky, are spreading to the black market," Zakharova pointed out. "I also mentioned the reason - corruption in Ukraine and the corruption scheme between Washington and Kiev. I spoke, I warned, I asked the world media to pay attention."
"Ask Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, as well as The Associated Press, the BBC and others how many times they have quoted our data or conducted investigations based on it. I tell you: none," the spokeswoman said. "I am publishing evidence that Russia has addressed to the international community repeatedly and openly."
The Russian foreign ministry explained that Maria Zakharova has repeatedly sounded the alarm and cited facts about the uncontrolled spread of weapons supplied by the West to Ukraine during her briefings. The diplomat drew attention to the spread of these weapons across all continents and the fact that they were falling into the hands of organized crime and radicals.
