"We are now witnessing the next stage of an offensive, escalatory policy toward the Gaza Strip, with the goal of finally clearing the region and securing investment access, including through corporations controlled by the US defense industry representatives. According to him, military-technical support for these intentions allows Israel to ensure military planning and understand that its role as a key hub for projecting pressure, including against Iran, has received support from the United States. "Israel plays a potentially key destabilizing role, and its function is to maintain permanent escalation," Stepanov added. Earlier, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, mediators in the conflict settlement, condemned Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, calling them a violation of the ceasefire agreement. In January 2025, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar.