Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephonic conversation to discuss the implementation of phase two of the Gaza ceasefire, on which the UN Security Council is due to vote on Wednesday.
The Council is set to vote on the deployment of an international stabilisation force (peacekeepers) in Gaza. The Kremlin spokesperson said on Saturday that “a thorough exchange of views took place on the situation in the Middle East region, especially including the developments in the Gaza Strip in the context of implementing the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of detainees.”
The statement also confirmed that the two sides discussed Iran’s nuclear programme and the prevailing situation in Syria, both of which remain core elements of the Russian foreign policy. Russia maintains its sole major base in Syria’s Tartus region, while it has actively sought a role in resolving the Gaza crisis and the Iran-Israel war through back-channel diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s office released a shorter statement, saying that the leader discussed “regional issues”. Earlier this month, the US circulated a draft resolution authorising the deployment of the international stabilisation force (ISF) in Gaza for at least 24 months and calling for the establishment of the so-called Board of Peace as a transitional governing body.
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On Friday, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Turkiye, Pakistan, and Indonesia released a joint statement backing the American proposal.
In contrast, Russia expressed reservations and submitted its own alternative draft, tasking the UN secretary general with drawing up options to implement US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
The Russian mission criticised the American draft for lacking “instruments of oversight and control” over the stabilisation force and for not mentioning the two-state solution. The Russian side contended that “only a truly equal, inclusive approach” can guarantee peace in the Gaza Strip and in the region.
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