Russian Foreign Ministry Hosts Hamas Delegation Amid War on Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English

The talks included discussions about the release of captives and the evacuation of foreign citizens, including Russians, from the Gaza Strip.

A delegation from the Palestinian movement Hamas arrived in Moscow, where they met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

During the meeting, Hamas expressed strong appreciation for the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the diplomatic efforts put forth by Russia regarding the war on Gaza.

Hamas discussed the need to halt what they referred to as "crimes of Israel supported by the West" and reiterated their right to resist the occupation through various means.

The talks also included discussions about the release of captives and the evacuation of foreign citizens, including Russians, from the Gaza Strip.

While Russian President Putin is not planning to meet with the Hamas delegation, the diplomatic engagement highlights Russia's potential role in ending the war on Gaza and facilitating humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.

Hamas expressed the belief that Russia, especially with its use of veto power in the UN Security Council, can contribute significantly to these efforts.

On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council turned down a resolution drafted by the United States concerning the war on Gaza due to Russia and China exercising their veto power against it.

Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia was critical of the resolution, describing it as "political" and expressing concerns about the approach taken in its drafting.

Nebenzia pointed out that the US delegation had refused other Security Council members the opportunity to consult with their respective capitals and had imposed unrealistic and urgent deadlines.

"The American delegation directly refused other security council members the opportunity of consulting with capitals, establishing unrealistic urgent deadlines," Nebenzia told the Security Council members ahead of the vote.

Nebenzia labeled the draft resolution as a "license" for "Israel" to proceed with a ground invasion in Gaza.

On the other hand, the Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun said that the US draft resolution on the war on Gaza does not reflect the world's strongest calls for a ceasefire and would not help resolve the conflict.

"The draft does not reflect the world's strongest calls for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting and it does not help to resolve the issue based on the above. The draft text is evidently not in a position to be adopted," Zhang Jun told the Security Council members.

Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau, expressed gratitude to Russia and China for their veto of the US-proposed resolution in the UN Security Council, according to the Palestinian movement.