Lavrov: Netanyahu’s Goal of ‘Destroying Hamas’ Unrealistic
The Russian Foreign Minister says that "it is not very good that the Palestinians are excluded from meetings that are designed to eventually determine their future."
Moscow does not yet see any prospects for ending the bloodshed in the Middle East, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out at the end of his visit to Malaysia.
“There are no prospects for ending this bloodshed yet. Israel, through Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, has repeatedly responded to calls for an immediate ceasefire by saying that it will not stop until it completely destroys Hamas,” Lavrov said.
He explained, “In my opinion, — and many of my colleagues share this point of view — it is an unrealistic task to completely destroy an organization that exists and that has sufficient capabilities and sufficient support, including in the Muslim world.”
The top Russian diplomat added that certain countries are attempting to draft new compromise proposals aimed at ending the violence gradually, “given that Israel rejects an immediate ceasefire.”
He mentioned that “some Arab countries, Egypt and Qatar are working with the Americans, and they also hold some meetings with the Israelis.”
However, the Russian Foreign Minister indicated that “it is not very good that the Palestinians are excluded from meetings that are designed to eventually determine their future.”
“In this regard, we will continue to help restore the Palestinian unity,” Lavrov concluded.
It is noteworthy that different Palestinian factions gathered in March in Moscow for intra-Palestinian talks initiated by Russia to facilitate consensus among them regarding the ongoing war on Gaza.
A couple of days ago, Russia’s lower parliamentary house passed a draft statement denouncing the Israeli vote against the establishment of an independent Palestinian State.
Russia has repeatedly stressed the importance of ongoing discussions to address the war on Gaza, lift the Israeli-imposed siege on the Palestinian enclave, and achieve an immediate ceasefire.
On Thursday, the State Duma’s foreign affairs committee head, Leonid Slutsky, stated that the draft accused the Israeli Knesset of violating international law and subverting the peace process in the Middle East.
The document further urges other national parliaments and international parliamentary organizations to condemn the Knesset and take steps to swiftly resolve the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, enhance cooperation in countering terrorism, and seek political and diplomatic solutions to conflicts, including through parliamentary diplomacy and interparliamentary dialogue.
