New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday and expressed displeasure over Moscow’s “anti-Israel" stance at the United Nations, an Israeli statement said, news agency Reuters reported. According to the statement, PM Netanyahu spoke to President Putin and expressed "robust disapproval" of Russia's "dangerous" cooperation with Iran.
The development comes after Russia supported a UNSC resolution for a Gaza truce, which was vetoed by the United States on Friday. Moscow said it was ready to provide all possible support to de-escalate the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
“Vladimir Putin reaffirmed the principal position of rejecting and condemning terrorism in all its forms. At the same time, it is extremely important that countering terrorist threats does not lead to such grave consequences for the civilian population,” a statement issued by the Kremlin read, Reuters reported.
According to the report, Russia's foreign minister also said an international monitoring mission should visit Gaza to take stock of the humanitarian situation.
It is to be noted that the 15-nation UN Security Council met on Friday to vote on the resolution seeking immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution was tabled by the United Arab Emirates and backed by over 90 member states. Thirteen Council members voted in favour of the resolution, and United Kingdom abstained.
The voting came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to appeal to the Council for a humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing conflict and to avert a "humanitarian catastrophe”.
“We are at a breaking point. There is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, which would have devastating consequences,” PTI quoted Guterres as saying.
In his letter invoking Article 99, the UN Secretary General noted that over 1,200 people, including 33 children were killed and thousands were injured in the attack unleashed by Hamas on October 7.