In a bid to address growing concerns over the escalation of violence in Gaza, Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to engage in a series of critical diplomatic discussions with leaders from Israel and Arab nations. This move comes as Russia expresses apprehension that Israel’s offensive in Gaza may lead to a broader regional conflict.
Russia has consistently advocated for diplomatic negotiations to bring an end to the ongoing conflict, which has not only strained its traditionally strong ties with Israel but has also added complexity to its relations with Iran, a key supporter of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted by the Interfax news agency, stating, “The president has already spoken to the president of Syria and the president of Iran.” Furthermore, he revealed that more crucial conversations are set to take place on Monday, involving the leaders of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Palestine, Mahmud Abbas, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Growing concerns have mounted for the safety of Palestinians who find themselves trapped in the heavily bombarded Gaza enclave, particularly as Israel gears up for a potential ground offensive with the aim of targeting Hamas leadership. Israel declared war on the Palestinian Islamist group after waves of its fighters managed to breach Gaza’s heavily fortified border, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,400 lives, the majority of whom were innocent civilians.
Amid these developments, Iran, a staunch supporter of Hamas, has issued stern warnings that any invasion of Gaza would provoke a substantial response, intensifying apprehensions of a wider conflict that could draw in other nations.
Against this backdrop, Moscow, which has been dealing with its own protracted conflict in Ukraine for nearly 20 months, has been relentless in its calls for a ceasefire and has offered its services as a mediator to facilitate dialogue and ultimately bring an end to the hostilities.
