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Russia on Wednesday hailed what it described as successful initial steps in implementing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, as Moscow positioned itself as a supporter of long-term peace efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that her government was "pleased to note that there have been positive changes in the development of the situation in the Gaza Strip, associated with the successful start of the implementation of the agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire and the exchange of detainees."
The ceasefire, brokered through mediation by Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Türkiye, has brought the first significant pause in fighting since the conflict erupted. Zakharova pointed to concrete developments including Israeli military withdrawals to predetermined positions, the return of surviving Israeli hostages by Hamas, and the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Russia has sought to maintain diplomatic engagement with both Israeli and Palestinian leadership throughout various Middle East crises, though its influence in the region has historically been more limited than that of the United States. Moscow has frequently criticized Western policy in the region while advocating for United Nations-centered approaches to conflict resolution.
Zakharova expressed hope that all parties would maintain "strict and full" observance of the ceasefire terms, highlighting the importance of humanitarian assistance, the return of displaced civilians and reconstruction of Gaza's damaged infrastructure.
The spokeswoman said Russia has "consistently advocated for a cessation of hostilities and a political-diplomatic settlement" since the Gaza crisis began, while claiming that Western nations blocked Russian draft resolutions at the UN Security Council.
Moscow intends to continue working with regional partners "to achieve long-term stabilization" across the Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone and the broader Middle East, Zakharova said.
She framed Russia's ultimate objective as a "comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue" grounded in international law and UN resolutions. "The implementation of the two-state solution will bring lasting peace to all peoples of the Middle East," she said.
The two-state solution — envisioning independent Israeli and Palestinian states existing side by side — has been the stated goal of international peace efforts for decades, though the path to achieving it remains deeply contentious.
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