Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza during a state address on Friday, calling the enclave “the world’s largest children’s cemetery.” He said the humanitarian crisis there amounts to a moral catastrophe.
“Gaza is the world’s largest cemetery for children,” Putin declared. “This horror must end.”
Appearing before dignitaries and military officials, Putin also warned that Russia would not ignore what he described as global inaction in the face of the suffering. He accused certain Western powers of turning a blind eye to the Palestinian plight.
The Russian leader, who has been at bloody war with Ukraine since February 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, added, “Well, it’s impossible to believe, but they’re convincing their own people. So, what kind of people are these?
“They’re either incredibly incompetent if they truly believe it, so it’s impossible to believe this nonsense
“Or they’re simply dishonest, because they don’t believe it themselves, but they’re trying to convince their citizens that they do.
“Well, what other options are there? Honestly, I just want to say, calm down and sleep peacefully.”
Putin’s remarks come as the war in Gaza, now nearly a year old, continues to claim thousands of civilian lives.
Israel launched a massive military campaign against Hamas following the group’s surprise October 7, 2023, attacks that killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel and saw over 200 others taken hostage.
Since then, Gaza has endured months of heavy bombardments, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and widespread shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.
According to the United Nations, tens of thousands of civilians, including many children, have been killed, while nearly two million people have been displaced within the enclave.
Humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned that the blockade and destruction of infrastructure have created catastrophic living conditions.
Putin’s reference to Gaza as a “children’s cemetery” echoes international criticism over the high proportion of minors among the dead.
The Russian president criticized Western leaders for focusing on the possibility of Russian aggression against NATO while, in his view, turning a blind eye to suffering elsewhere.
Russia itself has been locked in a bloody war with Ukraine since February 24, 2022, when Moscow launched a full-scale invasion.
The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands on both sides, displaced millions of Ukrainians, and triggered the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
Western nations have provided Ukraine with military and financial support, portraying the war as a struggle to defend European security against Russian expansionism.
NATO has increased its military presence along its eastern flank, citing the need to deter further Russian aggression.
Putin, however, insists that Russia poses no threat to NATO, casting such warnings as propaganda to justify continued Western military spending and involvement in the Ukraine war.
Putin’s comments highlight the deep divisions between Russia and the West over global conflicts.
While Washington and European capitals accuse Moscow of destabilizing Europe and violating international law in Ukraine, the Kremlin positions itself as a critic of Western double standards in the Middle East.
As both the Gaza war and the Ukraine conflict grind on, analysts warn that the overlapping crises are deepening polarization in international politics, with Moscow seeking to rally support from countries disillusioned with U.S. and European policies.
