Did America and Israel take revenge on Russia because of the Gaza war?
In a horrific incident that caught the attention of the global community, ISIS publicly claimed responsibility for Friday’s devastating concert attack in Moscow that left more than 140 dead. The most salient proposition that can be gleaned from this incident is its questionable timing, which appears to be a punishment for Moscow for its stance in rejecting the war and genocide in Gaza that Israel has been waging for six months.
This interpretation is evidenced by the fact that the attack took place on the eve of Russia and China using their veto power to prevent the approval of the US draft resolution in the Security Council, which could expand Israel’s control over Gaza and protect it from responsibility for crimes.
Following the horrific terrorist act that occurred in the suburbs of Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin linked this event to Russia’s position on the Palestinian issue and the condemnation of the genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza. In his initial reaction, he said: We do not regret vetoing the Security Council resolution and supporting the people of Gaza, even if you attack us.
The incident also sparked debate on social media, as activists were quick to recall and share Israeli officials’ previous threats against Russia. These threats were made in response to Russia’s diplomatic support and ongoing efforts in the Security Council to issue a ceasefire resolution, as well as Russia’s efforts to achieve national reconciliation between Palestinian factions. One of the most important of these threats was an earlier interview by Amir Whitman, a member of Israel’s Likud party, who bluntly warned that Russia would “pay a heavy price” for its relationship with the Palestinian issue.
The timing and content of Whitmer’s threats created inescapable links between those threats and the subsequent terrorist attack in Moscow, fueling a complex web of international relations and political consequences.
On the other hand, this tragic terrorist attack has raised many questions and speculations, not only because of its terrible loss of life but also because of the complex network of international relations that some countries may be involved in implementing. These questions became more prominent with the timing of the attack and the diplomatic tensions that preceded it.
The attack came shortly after President Vladimir Putin’s landslide election victory, a period usually associated with national consolidation rather than exposure to such shocking acts of violence. This background, along with earlier clear warnings from the US and UK embassies about possible security threats in Russia, greatly strengthens the hypothesis that the US and UK were behind the attack. It seems that this terrorist attack takes place in the framework of supporting Israel and punishing Russia for its position in supporting the Palestinian cause.