ISTANBUL

The activity of the so-called US-Israeli “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” is not a humanitarian mission but “violence disguised as good intentions,” Russia’s acting permanent representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, said during a Security Council meeting on Gaza on Wednesday.

Polyansky claimed that since the fund’s launch in May, over 1,800 Palestinians have died while seeking aid, including more than 1,000 near distribution sites managed by the initiative.

“Firing on civilians is carried out not only regularly but also deliberately. People desperate for food spend nights near distribution points, and in return, they get bullets,” he said.

He argued that the fund operates as a tool of intimidation rather than relief.

“This is no humanitarian mission. This is violence under the cover of humanitarian activity, aimed at subjugating defenseless civilians. Such methods are unacceptable,” he stressed, calling on the UN Secretariat not to compromise its principles.

Polyansky also linked Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza to reports that Hamas had agreed to a mediation proposal for the release of hostages and a temporary ceasefire.

He criticized Washington’s approach, saying: “We hear about America’s ‘aggressive diplomacy on the ground’ for many months, but it yields no encouraging results. We urge our American colleagues to think not only about Israel’s interests but also about the fate of Palestinian civilians.”

He reiterated Moscow’s support for a diplomatic solution, emphasizing that only the two-state formula could address Israel’s security concerns and the Palestinians’ right to statehood. Otherwise, he warned, West Jerusalem faces growing isolation and further loss of civilian lives in Gaza.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues amid stalled negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release. Russia has repeatedly criticized US policy in the conflict while insisting on the two-state solution as the only viable path to peace.