MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, describing it as a positive step toward ending more than two years of war in Gaza, but stressed that the true test would be its implementation on the ground.
Earlier today, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza, a move aimed at ending more than two years of devastating war that has killed more than 67,183 Palestinians, flattened much of the Palestinian territory, and triggered one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history.
The deal includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as well as an increase in aid to Gaza after more than two years of ‘genocide’, after Israel started bombing the Palestinian territory following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The agreement was brokered after prolonged negotiations involving the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye, and marks the first concrete step toward halting Israel’s military campaign that began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack.
“We certainly support these efforts. It cannot but cause general satisfaction that a ceasefire in Gaza is already being established. All these efforts can be welcomed,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Interfax as saying.
“We hope that the signatures will be delivered today, and then actions will follow to implement the agreements reached,” Peskov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on Monday to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including US President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to resolve the Gaza conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Trump’s plan as “the best solution we have on the table” and said it “offers hope,” though he noted that references to “statehood” were vague and did not specifically address the West Bank.
Lavrov also criticised the West for contributing to delays in implementing United Nations resolutions on Palestinian statehood, which he said “would come at a later stage.”
“Our Western colleagues must also bear their share of responsibility for having played a key role in stalling the implementation of the decisions on creating an independent Palestine on the West Bank and in Gaza,” Lavrov said.
“The Palestinian issue, which remains unresolved for nearly 80 years now, is the main factor fueling extremism in the Middle East.”
