‘Israel’s inadequate interpretation of right to self-defense root cause of conflict in Gaza’

MOSCOW (AA) – Israel’s “inadequate interpretation of the right to self-defense” is the primary reason for the escalation of the confrontation in the Gaza Strip, Russian geopolitical analyst Vitaly Naumkin says.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday to explain the deliberations and outcome of the February 29-March 2 intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow, Naumkin said an adequate agreement between the warring parties is still “very far away.”

“First of all, the reasons are the occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel, which not only does not intend to liberate them but also wants to bury the very thesis of occupation,” he said.

According to Naumkin, both Russia and attendees of the intra-Palestinian meeting deemed “unacceptable” the “de-Palestinization” of the Gaza Strip.

“Representatives of the Palestinian factions should insist that deportations of any kind are unacceptable, insist on the return of the people exiled from the south, so that the north of the Gaza enclave does not become a desert and does not turn into a cemetery.

“It is also worth noting that the restoration of the destroyed territories will require international assistance through UN channels. Russia has already contributed to the common cause. We need to help people survive so that the disaster does not become permanent,” he said.

All meeting participants, he said, were opposed to Israel’s plans to deploy military personnel along the Gaza Strip’s border.

The geopolitical expert also criticized the Israeli military strategy announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the goal of completely destroying Hamas is unachievable and expressed optimism that the talks in Cairo between Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Hamas will be successful.

Despite Israel’s refusal to participate in the talks, there is a possibility of a meeting and a six-week cease-fire, he said, adding that at the same time, it should be noted that the parties are not yet ready to implement the agreement without prisoners’ swap.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing 30,534 people and injuring 71,920 others with mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.