On Monday, the Palestinian group Hamas handed over the final 20 surviving hostages to Israel in a two-stage exchange, reportedly mediated with the involvement of Qatari representatives. By midweek, the outcome of the latest ceasefire attempt between Israel and Hamas may become clearer. On October 13, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset in Israel, before traveling to Egypt for a summit. The hostages had been held for more than two years, mirroring the duration of Israel’s military campaign that has reverberated across the region.
The two-stage exchange formed part of a broader ceasefire framework backed by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. Washington has framed the deal as a cornerstone of its renewed Middle East peace initiative, which aims to establish a long-term truce and pave the way for gradual reconstruction in Gaza. Trump described the agreement as the “beginning of a new security architecture for the region,” though analysts caution that deep mistrust between the parties could still derail implementation.
The ongoing war in the Middle East is impacting Kazakhstan, as it is across Central Asia. Anti-Israeli sentiment has grown in this majority-Muslim country, though the government continues to advocate for a balanced and diplomatic approach. For Astana, maintaining neutrality amid the polarized reactions to the war is not just a matter of diplomacy, but also a matter of regional stability. Kazakhstan’s leadership views itself as a potential bridge between Muslim-majority nations and Western partners, drawing on its history of multivector foreign policy. Officials stress that Astana’s engagement is guided by the principles of dialogue and international law rather than religious or ideological alignment.
A Delicate Diplomatic Position
Kazakhstan has consistently supported international peacekeeping efforts. On September 30, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev backed Trump’s Gaza peace plan, and on October 9, Tokayev welcomed the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, as announced by his press secretary, Ruslan Zheldibay. Tokayev commended the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, and acknowledged the contributions of the United States and President Trump in advancing peace negotiations in the region.
Kazakhstan recognized the State of Palestine in 1992 and established diplomatic ties. While economic relations remain minimal, the recognition holds symbolic political significance. At the same time, Kazakhstan maintains relatively strong relations with Israel, with a notable volume of bilateral trade. The country’s longstanding diplomatic stance emphasizes the principle of “two states for two peoples.”
Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Israel exceeded $450 million in 2023, driven primarily by exports of Kazakh metals and imports of Israeli technology and agricultural products. Cooperation in water management, healthcare, and defense technologies has continued despite regional instability. Kazakh officials have also emphasized the importance of Israeli investment in innovation and renewable energy sectors.
Kazakhstan’s diplomatic position has been reiterated consistently. In November 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the only sustainable solution to the conflict lies in the creation of two sovereign states.
Amid intensified hostilities in October 2023, Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza. At that time, 76 Kazakhstani citizens, 161 individuals including family members, were reported in the Gaza Strip. One Kazakhstani woman and her Palestinian daughter were killed during Israeli shelling. Dozens sought evacuation, which commenced in November after negotiations with Israel.
Despite its support for Palestinian self-determination, Kazakhstan has maintained constructive ties with Israel. Following the collapse of the USSR, a significant number of Kazakh Jews emigrated to Israel, strengthening people-to-people connections. However, the war has strained personal, social, and business relationships.
In September 2023, Air Astana launched its first direct flight between Almaty and Tel Aviv. The route was suspended a month later due to regional security concerns.
Still, diplomatic engagement continues. On October 8, 2025, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yermek Kosherbayev, held a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, to discuss bilateral cooperation and the implementation of high-level agreements.
Public Sentiment and the Risk of Radicalization
Social media has amplified the emotional impact of the Gaza conflict in Kazakhstan. Hashtags supporting Palestinians have trended on local platforms, while pro-Israel voices often faced online backlash. Analysts say this digital polarization has blurred the line between political critique and religious hostility, prompting media regulators to call for “responsible discourse” in online spaces.
While analysts say most Kazakhstani citizens view the Middle East conflict as “not our war,” the escalation in Gaza has triggered a surge in anti-Israeli sentiment, with rising religiosity across Central Asia contributing to a more emotionally charged public discourse.
In December 2023, Israel’s National Security Agency raised its threat level for Central Asia, advising Israeli citizens to “avoid non-essential” travel to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. The advisory surprised many, as there had been no reported anti-Semitic incidents in Kazakhstan at the time.
In contrast, in October 2023, violent riots erupted in Makhachkala, Russia, following the arrival of a flight from Tel Aviv. Thousands stormed the airport in what authorities described as an anti-Semitic pogrom, resulting in dozens of arrests.
Similar incidents were reported in parts of Western Europe, including France and Germany, which experienced a rise in anti-Semitic attacks. However, no comparable travel advisories were issued for those countries or for Russia. Several Western European countries, such as France and Germany, were upgraded to Level 2 (“exercise increased caution”), reflecting elevated, but what were comparatively perceived to be lower risk levels.
In response, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Information and Social Development expanded its programs on interfaith tolerance and online monitoring of extremist narratives. The government has also increased cooperation with international partners to counter hate speech and prevent radicalization, emphasizing prevention through education and community engagement rather than repression.
In April 2025, concerns were raised domestically over proposals to relocate a Jewish cemetery near the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan. Public figure Turarbek Kusainov linked these calls to rising anti-Semitism and criticized some sermons by religious figures as inciting hatred against Jews and Christians. “In speeches by some imams and leaders within the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan, Jews are described as a people upon whom God’s wrath has fallen,” said Kusainov in an interview. “This language fosters interreligious hostility and promotes anti-Semitic narratives. Christians are also labeled as ‘lost’ in similar rhetoric.”
Kusainov and other civil society members have submitted appeals to government bodies calling for action against hate speech. He emphasized Kazakhstan’s long tradition of religious coexistence, noting the peaceful presence of Bukhara Jews and various Christian communities in the region.
Despite isolated incidents and growing tensions, Kazakhstan remains committed to interfaith harmony and dialogue, as evidenced by Astana hosting the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in September 2025, where Tokayev called on “religious figures to help prevent global chaos, reminding politicians of common sense, goodwill, and moral responsibility.” The Kazakh authorities continue to take steps to protect religious sites of all faiths, and there are currently no organized domestic movements demanding Palestinian statehood.
Ultimately, Kazakhstan’s approach to the Middle East crisis reflects its broader foreign-policy philosophy: a multivector strategy that balances relations with the West, the Islamic world, and regional partners. By maintaining dialogue with both Israel and Palestine, Astana is seeking to preserve internal cohesion while reinforcing its image as a responsible actor in international peacebuilding.
