In recent times, a concerning alliance between Russia and Hamas has come to light, raising questions about their collaborative efforts to undermine the West and its allies.
While there’s no concrete evidence suggesting that Russia had prior knowledge of the Hamas attacks, it is evident that Moscow is exploiting the situation to further its own geopolitical interests.
A Strategic Distraction for Russia
The timing of the Hamas attack in Israel was particularly advantageous for Russia. As the world’s attention turned towards the conflict in the Middle East, Moscow could discreetly pursue its ongoing invasion in Ukraine without much international scrutiny. This tactic allowed Russia to advocate for a cessation of U.S. military support to Ukraine. This shift of focus is in line with Moscow’s interests – it aims to create chaos rather than resolve conflicts.
Russian Support for Hamas
Russian support for Hamas has been observed in various forms. It is suggested that Hamas possesses Russian licenses to produce Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition, which were used in the attack. There have also been allegations that Russia’s private military company, Wagner, provided training to Hamas soldiers. While the exact extent of military support remains unconfirmed, signs of a cooperative relationship between Russia and Hamas have emerged.
The Propaganda Machine
Russia has leveraged its extensive propaganda and foreign influence apparatus to disseminate pro-Hamas and anti-Western disinformation. Even before the conflict, Russian media propagated the idea that U.S. arms supplied to Ukraine had found their way into the hands of terrorists. Post-attack, false narratives circulated, accusing Ukraine of arming Hamas. The blame for the violence in Israel was shifted to the United States, with Russian officials highlighting U.S. attention on Ukraine as a reason for neglecting Middle East tensions.
Diplomatic Shift
The relationship between Russia and Hamas is not new. Putin first invited Hamas leaders to Moscow in 2006, and Hamas delegations have been visiting Moscow since. Russia has never officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and has consistently taken a pro-Palestinian diplomatic stance. However, the recent war marks a change in the cordial relations between Russia and Israel. Israel had previously refrained from aiding Ukraine to maintain cooperation with Russia on Syrian targets. Yet, Russia now appears fully committed to supporting Hamas and Iran, particularly in diplomatic spheres.
Russia’s U.N. Resolution
Russia’s role as a diplomatic advocate for Hamas became evident when it presented a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for an immediate cease-fire but conspicuously omitted any mention of Hamas. The Russian U.N. ambassador subsequently blamed the United States for the Middle East crisis, focusing on Israeli actions against Palestinian civilians as an example of U.S. policy failure.
In summary, the alliance between Russia and Hamas, while not entirely new, has raised alarms due to the significant shift in their diplomatic and geopolitical cooperation. Their shared anti-Western sentiment and efforts to divert international attention to distract from Russia’s actions in Ukraine are causes for concern. As the United States considers future support for both Israel and Ukraine, it must act prudently to thwart Putin’s strategy and protect its interests.