Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke over the phone on Saturday to review key developments in the Middle East.According to a joint statement from the Kremlin and the Prime Minister’s Office, the leaders discussed the situation in Gaza, Iran’s nuclear programme, and ongoing dynamics in Syria.According to the Israeli readout, the call was initiated by Putin. Netanyahu’s office noted that this was the latest in a series of recent exchanges between the two leaders, adding that their discussions have focused on regional issues, as cited by the Times of Israel.The Kremlin described the discussion as “a thorough exchange of views.”The two leaders had last spoken in September regarding the US-brokered ceasefire proposal, during which Putin reiterated Moscow’s stance “in favor of a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue.”
Russia counters US draft with its own UN Gaza resolution
Meanwhile, Russia on Thursday put forward its own draft UN resolution on Gaza, directly challenging a US push for the Security Council to endorse US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. In a note to Council members, Russia’s UN mission said its “counter-proposal is inspired by the US draft.””The objective of our draft is to enable the Security Council to develop a balanced, acceptable, and unified approach toward achieving a sustainable cessation of hostilities,” the draft read, as cited by Reuters. The Russian draft, reviewed by Reuters, asks the UN secretary-general to outline options for an international stabilization force in Gaza. It notably omits any reference to the “Board of Peace,” the transitional administration proposed in the US plan.The US mission to the UN called on the Security Council to proceed with consideration of Washington’s draft resolution.Israel and Hamas agreed in October to the first phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, reached amid their two-year conflict and a related hostage-release arrangement. The full plan is attached as an annex to the US draft resolution.While Trump has ruled out deploying US troops to Gaza, US officials have outlined a potential force of roughly 20,000 personnel and have held talks with Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Azerbaijan on possible contributions.