MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to discuss the situation in Gaza and wider Middle East developments, the Kremlin said.
In a statement, the Kremlin noted that “a thorough exchange of views took place concerning the situation in the Middle Eastern region, including developments in the Gaza Strip in the context of implementing the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of detained persons, the status quo around Iran’s nuclear program, and issues related to contributing towards further stabilization in Syria.”
Gaza is a densely populated Palestinian territory on the Mediterranean coast, long at the centre of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and now facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Home to around two million people, most of them refugees, the Strip has been under an Israeli–Egyptian blockade since Hamas took control in 2007.
Since the war erupted on 7 October 2023, Israeli strikes have killed more than 69,000 Palestinians, displaced nearly the entire population and destroyed much of Gaza’s housing, health infrastructure and essential services. Severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel have prompted the UN to issue warnings of famine.
A fragile ceasefire is currently in place as international efforts continue to secure hostage–prisoner exchanges, stabilize conditions and plan for Gaza’s eventual reconstruction.
The first phase of the agreement includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The broader plan also outlines the reconstruction of Gaza and the creation of a new governing administration for the enclave without Hamas.
