The Israel-Hamas War: A Welcome Distraction for Putin
Putin Planning to Profit from the Israel-Hamas War. Image: Getty Images
On October 7th, the Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel, shocking the entire region. Hamas fired thousands of rockets while hundreds of militants infiltrated Israel. According to Israeli intelligence, at least 1,400 people, most of them civilians, have been killed. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war and began mobilization for a counteroffensive. Palestinian health officials have claimed that about 3,000 people have been killed by retaliatory strikes in Gaza conducted by Israel. The Israel-Hamas war is a worsening conflict with deep-rooted historical grievances, resulting in devastating consequences on both sides. It thus comes as no surprise that it has captured the attention of the entire globe.
Three days after the attacks, during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in on the conflict, claiming that it “is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East” and that the US had not considered the needs of the Palestinians. Putin has also stated his concern about the number of civilians killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip, calling for an “immediate ceasefire” and the “resumption of the negotiation process.” Putin’s concern with the number of civilians is tainted with hypocrisy and an attempt to divert attention from Ukraine. Russia’s heavy-handed approach in Ukraine has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths, a contrasting reality to his statement on the ethics of the current Middle Eastern crisis.
Putin is taking full advantage of the intense situation going on in Israel and Gaza. While Israel was fending off the attack from Hamas, Moscow launched a hugely ambitious 10-day attack in the Donbas region of Ukraine to retake territory around Avdiivka, “striking with everything they have,” according to Vitaliy Barabash, head of Avdiivka's military administration. This attack would have made headlines prior to the heated struggle in the Middle East but now barely managed to capture the world's attention.
For Russia, there are longer-term gains available as well. The Israel-Hamas war has put some doubt on US aid to Ukraine, as there is a sudden rush to aid Israel. Even pro-Ukraine lawmakers such as Rep. Don Bacon are urging to prioritize aid to Israel, while the Biden administration seeks to link funding for all U.S. defense priorities. The tensions of where to place US support between Ukraine and Taiwan have only increased with the addition of threats against Israel. Putin is all too glad to be witnessing the struggle of the US government to fund multiple wars.
However, it's important to note that Russia's efforts to divert attention through forceful statements are not backed up by concrete plans to aid Palestinians, raising doubts about Putin's genuine interest in resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict. Instead, it appears he aims to maintain chaos abroad to further his greater war against the West. Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the Kremlin has been in touch with both sides of the conflict in Israel and Gaza and is pursuing a resolution for the bloodshed. “We intend to keep making efforts and play our role in terms of providing assistance to seek ways to a settlement,” he said. However, how Russia intends to accomplish this resolution was not explicitly specified. As Anna Borshchevskaya, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said, “Putin benefits from global chaos. His goal remains the destruction of the current international system.” For the Kremlin, global chaos signifies less chaos at home.
Putin claims with complete confidence that the US policy led to the conflict in Israel and Gaza, but who is actually to blame? Well, it very much depends on whom you ask. Israel and its supporters are blaming Hamas, who is indeed directly responsible for the horrendous attack. The Palestinians and its supporters claim that the war results from the decade-long occupation and Israel’s harsh treatment of its Palestinian subjects.
There are many different factors at play in this conflict that have deep historical roots, notably with the United Nations vote in 1947 to partition land in the British mandate of Palestine into two states – one Jewish, one Arab. The conflict then intensified with the founding of Hamas in 1987. The US, like many other states, had a hand to play in this ongoing conflict and can be partially blamed for insufficient peace dealings, however, I must stress partially. This conflict is complex and layered with years of grievances and antagonism. There is plenty of blame to go around. Seeing one side as wholly innocent and shifting all blame to one actor does not allow one to make impartial decisions or see things from a broader historical perspective. Putin is quick to turn all the blame on the US and its policy concerning this region, not even acknowledging the atrocities committed by Hamas. His sole purpose was to tie the conflict to his greater war against the West. Putin is directly benefiting from the chaos abroad by the diminishing of the US image, having attention taken away from Ukraine, and US support being stretched even further around the globe. What is seen by many as an atrocious war caused by years of conflict is a welcome distraction for Russian President Putin and a way to take his singular focus of countering the US even further.