Russia said on Friday, defending its decision to invite a delegation from the Hamas movement to visit Moscow in the face of strong Israeli criticism, that it is necessary to maintain communication with all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that representatives of Iran and Hamas were in Moscow on Thursday to hold discussions, for the first time since the outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinian movement.
Published on: 10/27/2023 – 16:40
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Why? Moscow Friday’s decision to invite a delegation from the Hamas movement to visit Russia stressed the need to maintain communication with all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For its part, Israel urged the Kremlin to expel the Palestinian movement’s delegation and described their invitation to Moscow as “unfortunate.” Israel also pledged to eliminate Hamas in response to an attack launched by militants of the Palestinian movement on October 7, which led to the death of 1,400 people..
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the delegation met with representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry, but did not meet with President Vladimir Putin or officials in the Kremlin..
He added to reporters, “We see it as necessary to continue our contacts with all parties, and of course we will continue our dialogue with Israel.”
It is noteworthy that Russia has relations with all major parties in the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, Syria, Hamas, and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which has only limited authority in the occupied West Bank..
Russia has repeatedly blamed the current crisis on the failure of American diplomacy.
For its part, the Russian Embassy in Israel issued a statement in which it reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all those detained by Hamas, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip, which Israel is intensively bombing before an expected ground invasion. Gaza officials say more than seven thousand Palestinians have been killed.
The Russian newspaper Kommersant quoted a member of the Hamas delegation visiting Moscow as saying that the movement cannot release any detainee before agreeing on a ceasefire..
The newspaper also quoted that member as saying that Hamas needs time to locate all those transferred by various Palestinian factions from Israel to Gaza in the October 7 attack..
Raising tension… “It’s very bad.”
Peskov ruled out the risks of Russia’s involvement in the conflict after US fighter jets on Friday bombed two weapons and ammunition facilities in Syria in response to attacks by Iranian-backed factions on US forces..
But he added that the American bombing would raise tensions in the region, saying, “This is a very bad thing.”
In addition, TASS news agency reported on Friday that another senior member of the Hamas delegation in Moscow, Musa Abu Marzouk, held talks with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, who is also visiting the Russian capital..
TASS quoted sources at the Iranian embassy in Moscow as saying that they discussed efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to its residents. Baqeri Kani also stressed Tehran’s strong support for the Palestinian cause..
Read also: China announces its readiness to coordinate with Russia to reach a truce between Hamas and Israel
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that representatives of Iran and Hamas were in Moscow on Thursday to hold discussions, for the first time since the outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinian movement about three weeks ago..
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that “there are representatives of this Palestinian movement in Moscow,” and that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri is also in the Russian capital.. Without providing details regarding the agenda or content of the discussions.
However, a Russian diplomatic source later confirmed to local news agencies that the meeting with the Hamas delegation, headed by Musa Abu Marzouk, focused on the hostages that the movement took, including foreigners, during its unprecedented attack against Israel.
“An unprecedented escalation of the conflict”
He pointed out that Moscow stressed to the movement’s delegation the necessity of “the immediate release of foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip,” and touched on “issues related to the evacuation of Russian and other foreign nationals from the Palestinian Strip.”“.
For his part, Iranian Deputy Minister Ali Bagheri discussed with his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Bogdanov, “the unprecedented escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry..
The ministry added that during this meeting, “the need to stop hostilities in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings and to quickly provide humanitarian aid to the affected Palestinian population was reaffirmed.”“.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also stressed in its statement that “Moscow and Tehran remain determined to continue close coordination of efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation in the Middle East.”“.
The Kremlin acknowledged on Tuesday that no progress had been achieved so far towards the release of the Russians who were kidnapped by Hamas.
As a reminder, Hamas fighters kidnapped more than 220 people, Israelis, foreigners or dual nationals, during an attack that left more than 1,400 dead, most of them civilians, according to the Israeli authorities..
Since then, the Israeli army has continuously bombed the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas. The movement’s Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that the death toll exceeded seven thousand people, the majority of whom were civilians.
It is noteworthy that Russia has had relations with the Palestinian movement for years and does not consider it “terrorist,” unlike the United States.
France 24/Reuters/AFP
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2023-10-27 14:40:41
