Netanyahu phone conversation with Putin criticises Russia for its stance on Gaza and ties to Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised Russia for its stance on the war in the Gaza Strip during a telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday, the Israeli prime minister's office announced.

Netanyah's office said in a communiqué to the media that the Israeli leader expressed his dissatisfaction with the positions Russian representatives took at the United Nations and other international forums.

Russia backed Friday a Security Council resolution calling for a halt to Israel's Gaza war, which, however, was blocked by the United States, which used veto.

Netanyah, as well, “drew sharp criticism of dangerous co-operation between Russia and Iran”, according to his office's communiqué.

Israel is facing criticism and calls for a ceasefire because it has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians and displaced nearly 85 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million residents within the surrounded territory, where, according to the UN, there is no safe place left to take refuge.

Any country that was to be hit by a criminal and terrorist attack like Israel has been hit would respond with the same force that Israel is using”, Netanyahu Putin told the announcement.

Netanyahu has expressed gratitude for Russia's commitment to the release of Israelis with Russian passports, who were being held captive by Hamas the radical Palestinian group declared by the US and EU terrorist organisation.

Some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed during the attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, while more than 240 were taken hostage. During a week-long interim ceasefire, part of the hostages were released in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

However, it is believed that over 130 hostages are being held by Hamas in Gaza yet.

In response to that attack, Israel is waging a devastating war from land and air, killing more than 17,400 Palestinians, with 70% of women and children, and injuring some 46,000, according to the Health Ministry on Palestinian territory, which says many other people have remained confined to rubble. / REL