Amid Israel-Hamas war, Russia to coordinate Mid-East policy with China

Moscow: President Vladimir Putin visited China this week, and on Thursday, Russia announced that it was coordinating its Middle East and North Africa policies with the country. China is becoming a closer ally of Russia. Russia reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Zhai Jun, China's special envoy for the Middle East, had discussed the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas organisation, which governs the Gaza Strip, during their discussions in Doha.

"There was confirmation of the constant focus of Moscow and Beijing on close coordination of efforts in the interests of a political settlement of this and other crises in the Middle East and North Africa region..." a foreign ministry statement said, Reuters reported.

Russia views itself as a possible broker between Israel and Hamas, the latter of whom triggered the present crisis on October 7 with a surprise attack that claimed 1,400 lives. In response, Israel launched airstrikes that, according to Gaza officials, have resulted in over 3,500 Palestinian deaths and over 12,000 injuries.

Moscow has attempted to assign part of the blame for the current situation to the US, which is Ukraine's strongest ally and whom Russia launched a full-scale invasion of last year.

On Monday, the UN Security Council rejected a resolution drafted by Russia that demanded the release of hostages, humanitarian access, and the safe evacuation of civilians in need in addition to a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The text did not specifically mention Hamas, but it did denounce all acts of terrorism and violence against civilians.