The Russian counterpart to Israel's foreign minister made the "unforgivable” remarks that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had "Jewish blood", which Israel's foreign minister denounced.

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov made these comments to try and justify Russia's portrayal Ukraine as "Nazi", despite the fact that its President is Jewish.

The foreign ministry of Israel summoned Russia's ambassador to ask for clarification and demanded an apology.

Six million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

In an interview with Zona Bianca, the Italian news channel, Mr Lavrov said these remarks on Sunday. This was just days after Israel celebrated Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is one of the most solemn events in the Israeli calendar.

When Mr Lavrov was asked how Russia could claim it is fighting to "de Nazify" Ukraine, he replied: "So what? If Zelensky are Jewish."

"This fact does not negate Nazi elements in Ukraine. Hitler was also Jewish, and I believe Jews are the worst anti-Semites.

The statement of Mr Lavrov was met with furious reaction by Israel's foreign minister, who accused him of anti-Semitism.

Dani Dayan, the head of Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial condemned Mr Lavrov.

He tweeted, "Most of His Remarks are Absurd, Delusional, Dangerous, and Deserve of Any Condemnation." "Lavrov deals in the reversal Holocaust: making the victims criminals. This is based on the unfounded claim Hitler was Jewish.

For decades, there have been unproven claims Hitler's paternal grandfather, who is not known, was Jewish. This assertion was fueled by Hans Frank's lawyer.

Frank wrote in his 1953 memoir that Hitler had instructed him to investigate rumors about Hitler's Jewish heritage. Frank claimed that he found evidence that Hitler's grandfather was Jewish, though this claim has been rejected by mainstream historians.

Russia repeatedly stated that it has a goal in the war against Ukraine to "de-Nazify" the country. This is a claim that is unfounded.

Israel, which is close to both Russia and Ukraine, has been at forefront of international mediation efforts to end