Russian official hints end of US arms supplies to Israel may facilitate settlement in Gaza

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Cessation of arms supplies from the US to Israel may facilitate the settlement process in Gaza, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

Answering a question by Anadolu at a news conference in Moscow, Zakharova refrained from commenting on US President Joe Biden's warning to Israel regarding halting some weapons sales in the event of a full-fledged operation in Rafah, but said arms supplies to conflict zones "delay prospects of the settlement."

"The statements of a mutual, reciprocal nature between Washington and Tel Aviv I leave to them," she said.

The diplomat argued that weapons transfers to conflict zones has been "a long-standing tactic employed by Washington," which has consistently led to increased destabilization, heightened antagonism, and the exacerbation of terrorist activity and extremism.

Zakharova also highlighted the role of arms shipments in undermining economies and prolonging the resolution of crises, particularly within the broader Middle East context. "And most importantly, it delays the moment of settlement of the crisis (in Palestine) and makes it generally vague in the context of the entire Middle East situation," she said.

Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 Hamas cross-border attack that claimed 1,200 lives. Much of the enclave has been reduced to rubble besides causing conditions of famine.

Hamas accepted a cease-fire proposal by international mediators last week, but Israel rejected it and moved ahead with a limited operation in Rafah, southern Gaza city home to more than a million refugees.