Israel criticized Moscow for hosting a Hamas delegation a day after Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning Hamas for the October 7 attack.
.in_text_content_22 { width: 300px; height: 600px; } @media(min-width: 600px) { .in_text_content_22 { width: 580px; height: 400px; } }
Israel views inviting senior Hamas officials to Moscow as an obscene move that supports terrorism and legitimizes the atrocities of Hamas terrorists, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Hayat said, as quoted by Haaretz.
Public criticism of Russia against Israel is rare, the publication notes.
The Hamas visit was not announced and was unexpected.
Subsequently, the Russian Foreign Ministry presented its explanation of what Hamas was doing in Moscow. According to the official wording, “contacts took place to continue the Russian line for the immediate release of foreign hostages” who are being held captive in the Gaza Strip.
In addition, according to the Foreign Ministry, the issue of evacuating Russian and other citizens from the territory of the enclave was discussed.
In the Hamas interpretation, the head of the delegation, Politburo member Abu Marzouk, discussed “aggression against Gaza” in Moscow, insisting on the right to “resist the Zionist occupation by all available means.”
The delegation of the movement highly appreciated the position of Russian President Putin and the efforts of active Russian diplomacy, the press release also says.
The Hamas statement makes no mention of hostages. Instead, there are calls for a ceasefire, the opening of checkpoints and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Hamas also mentioned the rights of the Palestinian people, and the Russian Foreign Ministry mentioned the need to create a Palestinian state within 1967 with its capital in East Jerusalem.
Before the Hamas attack on Israel, which provoked a powerful wave of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, visits by Hamas delegations to Moscow were not uncommon.
Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the EU, US and Israel
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.