The Russian Foreign Ministry negotiated the release of hostages with representatives of the Islamic militant Hamas in Moscow. Israel reacted angrily and spoke of “supporting terrorism”.
Diplomats from the Russian Foreign Ministry spoke in Moscow with a delegation from the Islamic militant Hamas about the release of foreign hostages held in the Gaza Strip. The ministry announced this after meeting with Musa Abu Marsuk, who is part of the leadership of the Islamic militant terrorist organization.
“Issues related to the evacuation of Russian citizens and other foreign citizens from the Palestinian enclave were also discussed,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, according to the Interfax news agency. No further information was provided.
Talks in Qatar and with Iran
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov had already met with Hamas representatives in Qatar to discuss the hostages. According to Israeli information, terrorists are holding more than 220 people in the Gaza Strip who they kidnapped during the attack on Israel on October 7. According to Moscow, at least two of them have Russian citizenship.
Bogdanov, who is also the Kremlin’s Middle East envoy, also met with his Iranian counterpart. A brief Foreign Ministry statement said talks with Ali Bagheri focused on “the need to cease hostilities within and around around the Gaza Strip and the rapid provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected Palestinian population”.
Harsh criticism of Russia
Israel condemned the meeting in Moscow. “We call on the Russian government to immediately expel the Hamas terrorists,” said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat. Senior Hamas officials have on their hands the blood of 1,400 dead Israelis “who were massacred, murdered, executed and burned.”
The representatives’ invitation represents “support for terrorism” and legitimizes Hamas’ atrocities, he said. The terrorist militia is responsible for the abduction of babies, children, women and the elderly, among others, in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported that Hamas’ deputy intelligence chief, Shadi Barud, was killed in an army airstrike in the Gaza Strip. He is said to have been responsible for planning the attack on Israel and the October 7th massacre.
With information from Bettina Meier, ARD Tel Aviv