Delegates from the Palestinian militant group Hamas met with Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday, state media reported, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“I can confirm that representatives of the [Hamas] The Palestinian movement is visiting Moscow,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a weekly briefing.
Moscow had not previously announced plans for talks with the militant group, which launched an attack inside Israel on October 7, leading to a relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military.
Interfax later reported that the Hamas delegation was led by Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior member of the militant organization.
“Contacts were maintained [Marzouk] in continuation of Russia’s position, [which calls] “For the immediate release of foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip and issues related to ensuring the evacuation of Russian and other foreign citizens from the territory of the Palestinian enclave,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
More than 200 people are believed to be held captive by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza following deadly attacks in Israel earlier this month. At least six of the hostages are proven to be Russian citizens.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said earlier Thursday that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to travel to Moscow “soon” for talks with President Vladimir Putin.
The state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the Hamas delegation met with Bogdanov in Moscow and that during the meeting the delegates “praised Putin’s position and the efforts of Russian diplomacy.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Minsk on Thursday.
The Kremlin has said it maintains ties with both Hamas and Israel to mediate the Israel-Hamas war and maintain its influence in the Middle East.
Hamas’s visit to Russia this week is the first since the militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7.