Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented differing accounts of a phone call that took place between them on Sunday. According to a report by the American newspaper "The New York Times," this discrepancy reflects a growing rift in their relationship, escalating since Hamas's attacks on Israel and the subsequent violent Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza.
Putin and Netanyahu spoke over the phone on Sunday for the first time in weeks. Following the call, Netanyahu expressed that he was "not satisfied" with Moscow's positions at the United Nations Security Council and "voiced sharp criticisms of the dangerous cooperation between Russia and Iran," according to a statement released by his office. Conversely, the Kremlin stated that the conversation between Putin and Netanyahu focused on the "catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza."
The Kremlin added in its statement regarding the leaders' talks that "the Russian side is ready to provide all possible assistance to alleviate the suffering of civilians and to calm the conflict." Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, endorsed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, claiming that the United States is "complicit in the brutal massacre being carried out by Israel."
Meanwhile, the United States thwarted the resolution using its veto power, asserting that Israel "has the right to defend itself against Hamas attacks." The Kremlin mentioned that Putin characterized Hamas's attack on Israel as a "terrorist act" and reiterated this stance during the Sunday call.
While Putin's support for Israel was initially muted, he attempted to maintain working relations with it. However, he also stated that the dominance of Western elites allowed the crisis to occur in the first place, and Russian authorities gave government media the green light to support Hamas and undermine Israel, as well as launch attacks on the United States.
