Russian President Putin Calls Gaza Crisis A "Direct Threat" To Russia's Security Interests

Zero Hedge: Putin Calls Gaza Crisis "Direct Threat" To Russia's Security Interests; Merkel Condemns Anti-Israel Protests 

At a moment the United States is blocking a UN Security Council meeting and statement on Gaza, delaying it further to next week given Israel shows no signs that it's ready for ceasefire talks following an earlier overture from Hamas, multiple world leaders have issued their own statements demanding "urgent de-escalation" and have called for ceasefire, particularly French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Putin's latest statement Friday, being initially reported by Sky News Arabic, appeared especially forceful, calling the crisis a "direct threat" to Russian interests in the region. 

He said the "current sharp escalation in Israeli-Palestinian conflict poses a direct threat to Russia's security interests," according to a translation. This after yesterday Putin along with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for an end to the fighting.  

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WNU Editor: There are over one million Russian jews living in Israel, and they have millions of family members back in Russia. Of course President Putin is concerned with what is happening. But he is not alone (see below).  

Putin, UN Urge Israel, Palestinians to Halt Fighting (Moscow Times/AFP)  

Boris Johnson urges both sides in Israel-Gaza violence to 'step back' (BBC)  

Macron speaks with Netanyahu, urges return to peace in Gaza (France 24)  

Israel-Palestine crisis updates: World leaders react to Jerusalem crisis for Gaza, Tel Aviv (BBC)