Israel, Ukraine, the Patriots, —and Hamas

The statement by Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, acknowledging his country’s indirect role in returning Patriot surface‑to‑air systems—previously in service with the Israel Defense Forces—to the United States after receiving newer air-defense systems, has rocked Ukrainian media.

It upended longstanding Israeli assurances—echoed by many officials—claiming the country provided only humanitarian aid and no weapons to Ukraine.

Just as startling was the rapid response from Israel’s Foreign Ministry: a public denial that any military equipment, including Patriots, had been sent to Ukraine—effectively repudiating their own ambassador.

So what really happened? Formally, nothing the US did was improper—Patriots were American-owned and handed to Ukraine by Washington. But without Israel’s political blessing to return them, these systems would still be stockpiled by the IDF. That decision required conscious, sovereign agreement by Jerusalem, fully aware that Ukraine needed them.

That’s what makes Ambassador Brodsky’s position valid—not the official denial. He didn’t just make a diplomatic flourish; he showed empathy, a rare quality in international affairs today. He resides in Kyiv, witnesses the destruction, the wounded and bereaved civilians—just like other diplomats—but unlike them, represents a nation facing daily rocket and terror attacks itself.

Knowing terror firsthand, Brodsky was right to highlight the political decision that helped save lives elsewhere. These Patriots aren’t just weapons—they are a shield for civilian populations.

Yet this reveals deeper layers. Israel’s consent to return the systems is also a testament to its enduring alliance with the US Such coordinated moves don’t happen without strategic synchronization. So this story is not only about aid—it’s about trust, shared geopolitical risk, and collective resolve.

And these challenges are co‑threats: Hamas—the same group that launched the horrific October 7, 2023 attack on Israel—maintains cozy ties with Russia. Moscow hosts Hamas delegations, legitimizing them. Iran, which backs Hamas, is also arming Russia with drones deployed daily against Ukrainian civilians. It’s not just a parallel activity—it’s a unified axis of terror. Brodsky’s words are not emotional; they are principled.

So why did Israel’s Foreign Ministry rush to disavow him? This is not merely diplomatic caution. For years, fear of antagonizing Moscow has shaped Israel’s foreign policy. Even after October 7, Jerusalem hesitated to publicly criticize the Kremlin. Yet Moscow has long supported the very entities—Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas—that threaten Israel’s existence. Many know this, yet fewer admit it.

Thus, when the Israeli ambassador in Ukraine speaks of help, he voices the views of genuine allies—those willing to identify the enemy by name. If some in Jerusalem fear those truths—that’s their problem, not Brodsky’s.

The bottom line is not Foreign Ministry statements—it’s that Ukrainian lives are now better protected. Thanks to real allies, lives were saved.