In the Shadow of the Ukraine War: Russia and Gaza Conflict

This research looks at Russia’s policy following Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli retaliation. For years, Russia pursued a policy in the Middle East that sought to transform it into a pragmatic or “equidistant” actor that dealt with all relevant stakeholders without aligning closely with any. However, in the months since the Hamas attacks, Russia has taken a visibly pro-Palestinian side and sacrificed good relations with Israel. This research assesses these developments in the context of Russia’s post-Ukraine War diplomatic isolation.