Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the violence in Gaza would have ceased if the US had stopped supplying arms to Israel.
During a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Lavrov attributed the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, to US policy in the region.
“New geopolitical experiments” by Washington and its allies, Lavrov asserted, only exacerbate the situation in the region, already burdened by the legacy of Western colonial mandates.
He highlighted that Washington continues to provide diplomatic support, along with weapons and ammunition, to Israel, even ten months into the conflict. This, Lavrov said, has led to the deaths of 40,000 Palestinian civilians and injuries to 90,000, surpassing the casualty toll of the Ukraine crisis over the past decade since the 2014 Maidan coup in Kiev.
Lavrov pointed out that the conflict in Gaza has also claimed the lives of nearly 300 UN personnel and members of humanitarian organizations, marking the highest such figure in history.
“If the US were to end its support [for Israel], the bloodshed would stop,” he stated. “But the US is either unwilling or unable to do so.”
According to Lavrov, the situation demonstrates that Washington is prioritizing political gains ahead of the November presidential election over saving lives.
Lavrov accused Washington of blocking all calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at the UN level and demanding that the UN Security Council cease its work on the matter.
Russia, he stated, supports an immediate and sustainable ceasefire that would facilitate the release of 120 Israeli hostages, as well as 9,500 Palestinians who have been arbitrarily detained since October 7, 2023.
Moscow also advocates for safe humanitarian access for all those in need. These measures, coupled with an end to Israel’s “illegal settlement activities” in the West Bank, would create a conducive environment for resuming peace talks between Israel and Palestine, Lavrov added.
Lavrov acknowledged the existence of “behind-the-scenes contacts” aimed at shaping the future of Gaza and the Palestinian state without the involvement of Palestinian authorities and people. These actions, he condemned, are unacceptable and stressed that there should be “no word about Palestine without Palestine.”
“The Middle Eastern region is facing unprecedented risks for security and the well-being of its peoples” due to the conflict in Gaza, Lavrov warned, highlighting the potential for the conflict to spill beyond Israel and Palestine.
The conflict in Gaza erupted after a surprise attack by Hamas on nearby Israeli settlements in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 200 by the militants. West Jerusalem responded with an extensive bombing campaign followed by a ground operation in Gaza, which continues to this day.