Russia says it’s encouraged by what’s happening in Gaza after the new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began to be put into action. At a press briefing in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed to a string of developments she called “positive” – Israeli forces pulling back to agreed lines, Hamas handing over the surviving Israeli hostages, and the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
Zakharova stressed that these steps need to be more than a momentary pause. She urged everyone involved to stick to the deal fully: get humanitarian aid moving into Gaza, help displaced families return home, and start rebuilding the civilian infrastructure that’s been destroyed. In her view, those practical steps are essential to stop the cycle of suffering.
She also reminded listeners that Russia has pushed for a political solution from the start and has backed efforts to halt the fighting. Zakharova accused some Western countries of blocking Russia’s draft resolutions at the U.N. Security Council, and said Moscow will keep working with regional partners to try to stabilize the situation over the long term.
For Zakharova, the endgame hasn’t changed: a lasting settlement that follows international law and U.N. resolutions. She said a two-state solution – Israel and a sovereign Palestinian state living side by side – is the path that will bring lasting peace to the region.