Putin to call Israeli and Arab leaders as Gaza fears grow

Russian President Vladimir Putin will phone the leaders of Israel and the Arab world on Monday amid concerns in Moscow that Israel’s Gaza offensive could spark a wider regional confrontation.

Putin call Israeli and Arab leaders: “In talks, leaders have repeatedly called for an end to the conflict, which has strained relations with longtime ally Israel and complicated ties with Iran, a supporter of Hamas.”

According to a Kremlin adviser quoted by the Interfax news agency, “the president has already spoken to the presidents of Syria and Iran.”

Ushakov stated that they would make more phone contacts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during the day.

Since Israel was preparing to launch a ground offensive targeted at executing Hamas leaders, concerns for Palestinians besieged in the relentlessly bombed Gaza Strip have increased.

A day after waves of its members breached Gaza’s strongly fortified border and killed over 1,400 people—the majority of them civilians—Israel declared war on the Palestinian organisation.

Additionally, Iran, a supporter of Hamas, has threatened that it would retaliate against an invasion of Gaza, raising concerns about a wider confrontation involving other nations.

However, Moscow, which has been fighting its own offensive in Ukraine for almost 20 months, has repeatedly demanded a cease-fire and offered to act as a mediator.