Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted that he could try and facilitate peace talks between Israel and Hamas while his own troops strike a Ukrainian school with missiles.
Speaking to international media on Thursday, Putin said: “Well, why not? We have had very stable business relations with Israel. We’ve had friendly relations with Palestine for decades.
“Our friends know about this. Russia could in my opinion make a contribution to the peace process.”
Prior to these comments, Putin had been relatively quiet on the situation in the Middle East, sending no message of condolences to Israel after 1,200 people (current death toll) were killed in the attack.
Putin’s offer for peace talks comes as his country’s forces continue to wreak havoc in Ukraine 20 months on from the initial invasion.
Officials in Kyiv have said that a school in the town of Nikopol has been struck by a Russian missile, killing four people.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko posted the following on Telegram: “As a result of the Russian strike, four people died: a 72-year-old man and three women aged 69, 67 and 60.”
He added that two people who were injured were receiving medical assistance. The victims were employees at the school.
A regional governor in the town also said that 50 homes and two infrastructure facilities were damaged.
Russia has not commented on the allegations.
Relations between Russia had been boosted in recent years when Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promoted cultural ties and visa-free travel between the two countries.
In his memoir published during Russia’s war on Ukraine, Netanyahu praised the Russian leader for his intellect and his “particularly friendly attitude” toward the Jewish people.
Despite this, Putin has not called Netanyahu since Hamas’ attack, it has been reported. Nor has he condemned the terror group’s incursion.
Pinchas Goldschmidt, who served as the chief rabbi of Moscow for nearly 30 years until fleeing the country during the Ukraine war, told the Guardian that the relationship between the two leaders is no longer as strong.
She said: “The warm relationship [between Russia and Israel] that we have seen for years under Putin has cooled down. We are in a different world now.
“Israel has always been careful to maintain a good relationship with Moscow given Russia’s large Jewish community and its influence over Syria.”
