A delegation from the Hamas movement held talks in Moscow with a high-ranking official in the Russian Foreign Ministry
, according to the official Russian news agency (TASS) and a statement from Hamas on Thursday.
TASS said that the talks focused on the release of hostages held by Hamas,
in addition to the evacuation of Russian nationals from the Gaza Strip.
delegation included the Deputy Director of the Political Bureau, Musa Abu Marzouk, and Bassem Naim
, a prominent leader in the movement who lives in Gaza.
The delegation met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Special Presidential Representative for Middle East and African Affairs,
Mikhail Bogdanov, according to a Hamas statement
the Gaza Strip
TASS quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying that the talks took place within the framework of Russia’s position calling for “the immediate release of foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip.”
- The Foreign Ministry added: “Issues related to ensuring the evacuation of Russian citizens
- and other foreign citizens from the territories of the Palestinian Strip were also discussed.”
- The Hamas delegation praised the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and stressed the need for the international community to fulfill
- its “responsibilities towards the crime of genocide committed by the Zionist government,” according to a Hamas statement.
- The movement added in its statement: “Mr. Bogdanov expressed his country’s position in support of the rights of the Palestinian people,
- and outlined his country’s efforts with the parties concerned with the aim of a ceasefire
- , opening the crossings, and bringing humanitarian aid (into Gaza).”
For its part, Israel condemned the visit, according to a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry,
which said: “Israel condemns the invitation of senior Hamas officials to visit Moscow,
which is considered an act of supporting terrorism and legitimizing the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists,” and added:
“We call on the Russian government to expel Hamas terrorists immediately,” she said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that about 1,000 Russian citizens
and citizens of Commonwealth countries have requested to be evacuated from Gaza