Khamzat Chimaev, a MMA Fighter, Expresses Desire to Fight in the Middle East

Khamzat Chimaev, a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter of Chechen origin representing the UAE, recently announced his wish to fight in the Middle East. This came after his victory over American fighter Kamaru Usman in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Abu Dhabi. The news was reported by the Grozny Inform portal.

Appealing to the President of Chechen Republic

During an interview in the Octagon, Chimaev made an appeal to the President of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov. He requested weapons and permission to fight for Palestine. The fighter also expressed his willingness to sacrifice his life to protect the Palestinian people.

Conflict in the Gaza Strip

On October 7, Israel experienced an unprecedented missile attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, initiated by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. Additionally, ISIS fighters infiltrated border areas in southern Israel. In response, the Israeli army launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This led to the Israeli army gaining control of populated areas near the Gaza border and carrying out airstrikes on targets, including civilians. A complete blockade on the Gaza Strip was also announced, halting the supply of essential resources such as water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel.

Casualties and Russian Involvement

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the number of casualties in the Gaza Strip reached 4,385 people, with over 13,000 wounded. In Israel, more than 1,300 people were reported killed according to local authorities. The Russian Embassy confirmed that during the conflict, 19 Russians were killed, two were taken hostage, and seven were listed as missing. It is estimated that around 150 Israelis are currently held by Hamas. The movement itself claims to have around 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.

Russian Efforts for Peace

The Russian Foreign Ministry has called for an end to hostilities from both sides. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed that a resolution to the Middle East crisis can only be achieved through the “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council. This formula entails the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the Palestinian territories, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.