As usual, Vladimir Putin waited three days before commenting on the Hamas attack on Israel. On October 10, during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, the Russian president said that this invasion showed the failure of American regional policy.
The reason for the defeat was well-deserved since Washington was not willing to compromise between the two sides and neglected the interests of the Palestinian people. Vladimir Putin did not mention Ukraine in this context, but Kremlin propagandists did on his behalf. Russian TV personality Olga Skabeyeva took to Twitter to express her dissatisfaction with the Ukrainian leader, saying, “Poor Zelensky, he has gone completely out of fashion.” This sentiment was echoed by retired General Andrei Gurulov, a frequent guest on her programs, who called on the Russian army to take action in Ukraine now that the world’s attention is focused on Israel.
– Whose ally is Israel? The United States of America. Whose ally are Iran and the Muslim world? Ours. The more confusion there is in Israel, the more resources, including those of America, will be diverted there.
The general went on to say that recent events confirm the arguments made by Vladimir Putin in his three-hour speech at the Valdai Club on October 5. Putin spoke about the concept of a multipolar world and the need to form a coalition between Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran. Such an alliance is now being formed.
The Belarusian press considered the attack on Israel as a victory of Moscow and Minsk, according to an article by Ihar Molatau in Minskaya Pravda.
It should be noted that some experts advise caution in establishing a direct link between the Kremlin and the Hamas aggression. Military support from Iran seems likely. Iran also has interests in the conflict, including undermining Saudi Arabia’s rapprochement with Israel. It is worth noting that Moscow also appears to have a vested interest in recent events, as the tactics employed by Hamas bear a striking resemblance to Russian actions in Ukraine. The launching of numerous rockets, which partially paralyzed the anti-aircraft defenses, and the use of drones to drop bombs on tanks and armored vehicles are reminiscent of the so-called “special operation”. The Palestinians were able to observe the Ukrainian front. However, specialists suggest that this well-executed attack required assistance, probably from Russia’s ally Iran, but possibly from others.
It is worth noting that Hamas representatives visited Moscow twice last year. In addition, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is currently planning a visit to Russia, spent several years in the Soviet Union and had an informal relationship with the KGB. Abbas was identified in secret documents of this organization, which were taken to London in the early 1990s by the former officer and archivist Vasily Mitrokhin, under the code name “Krotov”.
It is worth recalling the most recent event, which took place on September 20 this year. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu paid a visit to the capital of Iran. This could indicate that the Palestinian attackers, who had been preparing for their invasion for several months, may have had some experienced advisors.
The ancient Romans used to ask “Cui bono,” or “Who benefited from this?” when identifying the guilty party in obscure trials. If we apply the same question to the ongoing conflict, it becomes clear that Russia is the one who benefits the most. While attention is focused on the situation in Israel, the world’s focus is shifting away from the war in Ukraine. As a result, Western political involvement and military aid will now be divided between these military hotspots.
Volodymyr Zelensky is well aware of the situation. That’s why he attended the latest meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine on October 11 in Brussels. It was his first time at the meeting, and he used the opportunity to convince many Western leaders that Ukraine needs additional long-range missiles and ammunition to effectively continue its counteroffensive. General Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, has assured that the United States’ support for Kyiv remains unwavering. However, his statements were rather vague and lacking in specifics. An additional $200 million in military aid has been pledged. While significant, this amount pales in comparison to the $24 billion pledged by the US administration, which is now in doubt due to a congressional dispute.
There is some hope for Washington’s plan to combine aid to Israel and Ukraine in one package. Americans are more supportive of the Jewish state than of Ukraine, and this proposal could help both countries. However, the ongoing war in Israel may further deplete weapons supplies, which have been slowly running out after 19 months of assistance to the Kyiv army.
The benefits to Russia from the Palestinian-Israeli war extend beyond Ukraine. The conflict is likely to create additional waves of refugees heading for Europe that the European Union may not be able to handle. It could lead to further destabilization, threatening the so-called old European countries. In the long run, these countries may stop supporting the war in Ukraine.
Russia can demonstrate its importance in the Middle East to the West by showing that certain things in the region need Moscow’s help. Russia’s position in the Middle East remains strong, which gives Vladimir Vladimirovich hope for his dream of returning to the world stage. Cui bono?
Maria Przełomiec for belsat.eu
Translated by PEV
The opinions and thoughts expressed in the text reflect only the author's views.
