Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia spoke by phone on Sunday for the primary time in weeks, providing sharply completely different accounts of what was mentioned in a mirrored image of the strained relationship between the 2 leaders for the reason that outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Mr. Netanyahu mentioned he was dissatisfied with positions Moscow had adopted on the United Nations Security Council and “expressed sharp criticism of the dangerous cooperation between Russia and Iran,” in accordance to a press release from his workplace.
For its half, the Kremlin mentioned that the main target of the dialog was on the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.”
Russia, a everlasting member of the U.N. Security Council, on Friday backed a United Nations decision calling for a direct cease-fire within the Gaza Strip and mentioned the United States was “complicit in Israel’s brutal massacre,” an obvious reference to the greater than 17,000 individuals who the Gazan well being authorities say have been killed within the enclave for the reason that conflict started. The United States blocked the decision, arguing that Israel has the proper to defend itself in opposition to assaults by Hamas.
Mr. Netanyahu’s criticism of Russia over its ties with Iran is, partly, a reference to the shut relationship between the 2 nations fostered by the conflict in Ukraine. Tehran, a principal backer of Hamas, has equipped Moscow with hundreds of exploding drones to be used in Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
Mr. Putin has referred to as the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel a terrorist act — and he reiterated that place throughout the name on Sunday, the Kremlin mentioned. While his assist for Israel was initially muted, he has tried to protect working ties with the nation.
At the identical time, Mr. Putin has argued that the dominance of Western elites allowed for the disaster to occur within the first place. And state media in Russia has voiced assist for Hamas and undercut Israel. It has additionally denigrated the United States, Israel’s foremost ally.
“The Russian side is ready to provide all possible assistance to alleviate the suffering of civilians and de-escalate the conflict,” the Kremlin mentioned in its assertion on the leaders’ dialog.
Underscoring the layered nature of the connection between the 2 leaders, Mr. Netanyahu additionally praised Russian efforts to free an Israeli citizen who additionally has Russian citizenship from captivity in Gaza. Israeli authorities say that the assault led by Hamas on Oct. 7 killed round 1,200 folks and round 240 folks have been additionally taken hostage.