New Delhi: Russia has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to hold a vote Monday on its proposed resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict, which seeks a humanitarian ceasefire and denounces violence against civilians and terrorism.
The draft resolution, which was circulated among the 15-member council Friday, also demands the release of hostages, humanitarian access and evacuation of civilians in need, Reuters reported.
The document, however, did not specifically mention Hamas — the militant group that has controlled Gaza since 2007 — the report highlighted.
Russia’s move comes as Israel amasses troops in preparation for a ground assault in Gaza, in response to Hamas’ unprecedented aerial and ground offensive that began on 7 October.
The Israel Defense Forces have said that more than 1,300 Israelis have been killed in the attack, one of the worst on Israel’s soil since its establishment in 1948. Authorities in Gaza have reported at least 2,200 deaths since Tel Aviv began its retaliatory airstrikes, Reuters reported.
War against Hamas—operational update day 7. pic.twitter.com/1XYn4ri6qQ
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2023
Calling for an end to the “bloodshed”, Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday cautioned Israel against using tactics in the Gaza strip like “the siege of Leningrad during World War Two”, according to another Reuters report.
Putin reportedly said a ground offensive in Gaza by Israel would lead to an “absolutely unacceptable” number of civilian deaths, and that while Israel was subjected to cruel attacks by Hamas, Tel Aviv in response was using cruel methods of its own.
“More than 2 million people live there. Far from all of them support Hamas by the way, far from all. But all of them have to suffer, including women and children. Of course, it’s hard for anyone to agree with this,” Putin was quoted as saying in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Friday.
Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, in remarks to the media Friday, said, “Indiscriminate shellings of residential areas in Gaza, cutting this territory from water and electricity, its blockade which brings to our minds in particular the memories of the siege of Leningrad during the Second World War are also unacceptable.”
According to Nadeem Ahmed Moonakal, a research scholar at the Rasanah International Institute for Iranian Studies in Riyadh, Russia’s interest in the conflict is to prevent it from spilling over to Syria — where Moscow has a key ally and a stake in regional stability.
Moreover, Vijay K. Nambiar, former permanent representative of India at the UN and deputy national security advisor, told ThePrint that he doubts that the Russian draft resolution would pass in the UNSC, as it does not mention Hamas and could face a veto from the US, UK and the France.
A UNSC resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the permanent members — the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia. The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel from any Security Council action.
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No mention of Hamas
When Nebenzia was asked by the media why the resolution did not mention Hamas, he said, “This is a humanitarian resolution. This is not about condemnation. Condemnation of terrorism is there in the resolution, but the focus of the resolution is humanitarian and not political.”
Taking about the phrasing of the draft resolution, Nambiar said it would have to be “carefully worded” and balanced by “condemning” Hamas as well as clauses to prevent any humanitarian crisis that could arise in Gaza.
“After a draft resolution is circulated, Russia will have a discussion with countries who could support it before creating a working draft. However, if the resolution has any criticism towards Israel, it may lead to the US, the UK and France vetoing it,” he said.
The fact that the draft resolution does not mention Hamas could make it dead on arrival, Nambiar added.
‘Moscow’s focus is protecting Syria’
Nebenzia Friday said that Russia is willing to mediate between Israel and Palestine given its ‘historical ties’ with Palestine and Israel. Russia has close relations with the Arab world, which would strengthen its position to mediate and help implement statehood for Palestine, he added.
But what is Russia’s interest in intervening in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict? This lies in its need to ensure that the conflict does not “spill over” to Syria, said Moonakal.
“Russia’s interest in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is to use its resources to hold the West accountable for the escalation and ensure it does not spill over to Syria. The problem would become more challenging for Russia if the conflict spreads to include Syria,” he added.
On Friday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the Telegram app about the Israeli missile strikes leading to the Damascus and Aleppo airports being made inoperable. Syria reportedly alleged that Israel was the perpetrator of the missile strikes.
“These actions by Israel are a flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty and of the basic principles of international law,” the statement said, adding that strikes on civilian facilities posed a “real threat” to innocent people.
“Syria is a key regional ally for Moscow,” Moonakal added.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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