Russia says Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will ‘soon’ visit Moscow

MOSCOW

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will soon visit Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Thursday.

"I can say that soon he will make an official visit to Moscow, there will be talks with Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin)," Bogdanov said at the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society in Moscow.

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Over 8,400 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried a fraction of what is needed.