Israel stays vigilant as Russia embraces Hamas backers, exposing Arab hypocrisy behind Gaza diplomacy charade.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, an initiative intended to address global conflicts and oversee governance and reconstruction in Gaza.
The Kremlin confirmed the invitation on Monday, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that Moscow is reviewing the proposal and seeking clarification from Washington, without committing to participation.
For years, Russia attempted to balance relations across the Middle East, including with Israel and the Palestinians. However, since the October 7 war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has distanced itself from Israel while strengthening ties with Iran and other hostile actors, alongside courting Gulf states amid growing Western isolation.
Putin has publicly praised Trump’s conflict-resolution efforts, calling them potentially historic if successful. At the same time, Moscow has sharply criticized Israel’s campaign against Hamas, portraying the situation in the Gaza Strip as a humanitarian catastrophe and positioning itself as a “friend of the Palestinian people,” including through engagement with Mahmud Abbas.
Israeli officials and analysts view Russia’s posture as increasingly aligned with Israel’s enemies, warning that Moscow’s rhetoric and alliances embolden terror groups while Arab states exploit Gaza diplomatically, demanding restraint from Israel while refusing accountability for Hamas violence.
