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 battle between Israel and Hamas.
Mr. Netanyahu mentioned he was dissatisfied with positions Moscow had adopted on the United Nations Safety Council and “expressed sharp criticism of the harmful cooperation between Russia and Iran,” based on an announcement from his workplace.
For its half, the Kremlin mentioned that the main focus of the dialog was on the “catastrophic humanitarian scenario within the Gaza Strip.”
Russia, a everlasting member of the U.N. Safety Council, on Friday backed a United Nations decision calling for an immediate cease-fire within the Gaza Strip and mentioned america was “complicit in Israel’s brutal bloodbath,” an apparent 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 battle started. America blocked the decision, arguing that Israel has the suitable to defend itself in opposition to assaults by Hamas.
Mr. Netanyahu’s criticism of Russia over its ties with Iran is, partially, a reference to the shut relationship between the 2 nations fostered by the battle in Ukraine. Tehran, a principal backer of Hamas, has provided Moscow with 1000’s of exploding drones to be used in Russia’s battle in Ukraine.
Mr. Putin has referred to as the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel a terrorist act — and he reiterated that place through the name on Sunday, the Kremlin mentioned. Whereas his assist for Israel was initially muted, he has tried to protect working ties with the nation.
On the similar 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 support for Hamas and undercut Israel. It has additionally denigrated america, Israel’s major ally.
“The Russian facet is able to present all potential help to alleviate the struggling of civilians and de-escalate the battle,” 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 individuals and round 240 individuals had been additionally taken hostage.