Hamas lauds Putin stance on conflict after Moscow talks, Russia urges release of hostages
Moscow, Oct 26 (EFE).- Hamas on Thursday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict after talks in Moscow.
The Russian president has condemned Hamas’s attack on Israel, but has also called for civilians in Gaza to be protected.
Russia has also urged Hamas to release all of the hostages it is holding.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president’s special representative for the Middle East and African countries, said Thursday that he had recently met with the Hamas political leadership in Qatar to discuss the “fate of the abductees”.
According to Israel, the armed wing of Hamas is holding at least 224 hostages in Gaza, including at least three Russian dual citizens, Russian Ambassador Anatoly Viktorov says.
At least 23 Russian citizens were among the more than 1,400 people killed in the attacks and abductions launched by Hamas on Israeli territory on Oct. 7.
“The movement’s delegation highly appreciated the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the efforts of active Russian diplomacy,” Hamas said, according to Russian state media outlet Ria Novosti.
According to Hamas, ways to end “Israel’s crimes backed by the West” were discussed during the talks with Bogdanov.
In the statement, the group also defended its right to resist Israeli occupation with all methods at its disposal.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed at her weekly press conference that representatives of Hamas’ political wing were in Moscow for talks with Russian authorities.
Palestinian sources told state news agency RIA Novosti that the deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau, Musa Abu Marzuq, led the delegation.
Russia, which unlike several Western powers does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization, has urged the Islamist group to immediately release all of the hostages.
Bogdanov also said Thursday that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas would “soon” travel to Moscow for talks with Putin.
Moscow discussed the evacuation of all foreigners from Gaza with Marzuq, as reported by the Foreign Ministry to Russian news agencies.
Russia, like European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday, reiterated its support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, known as the “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Hamas delegation’s trip to Moscow coincides with the visit of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, who met in the Russian capital with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Galuzin.EFE
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