In call with Putin, Netanyahu criticizes Russia’s anti-Israel stance in world bodies

The Prime Minister’s Office says that during his phone call today with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his dissatisfaction with the anti-Israel stance on the war against Hamas that has been presented by Moscow’s officials at the UN and in other forums.

In a statement, the premier’s office says he voiced “resolute criticism of the cooperation between Russia and Iran.”

He stressed that any other country that suffered a terror attack equivalent to Hamas’s October 7 onslaught would have reacted to it with at least the same force with which Israel has reacted.

Netanyahu also expressed appreciation for the Russian efforts that prompted Hamas to release an Israeli-Russian man held hostage in Gaza, the statement says. (Two Israeli-Russian women were also released following reported pressure from Moscow, but they weren’t mentioned by Netanyahu since they were then included after the fact in the next day’s hostage exchange and Israel freed Palestinian security prisoners for them, according to the PMO.)

Netanyahu also asks Putin to pressure the Red Cross to secure visits to the remaining hostages and deliver medications to them.