Israel calls on Russia to expel the Palestinian Hamas delegation that visited Moscow. The Israeli Foreign Ministry called the invitation of Hamas representatives to talks in Russia “regrettable.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Israel appeals to Russia for the expulsion of the Palestinian Hamas delegation that visited Moscow. Israeli diplomacy declared that Hamas is a “terrorist organization” and that “the hands of senior Hamas officials are stained with the blood of more than 1,400 Israelis” who died in the October 7 Hamas attack.
Hamas representatives are also responsible for the abduction of hostages, including elderly people, women and children, the Ministry of Diplomacy emphasized.
Hamas delegation in Moscow
Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow announced the previously unannounced visit of a Hamas delegation. Sources in the delegation informed that Moscow was visited by, among others, Abu Marzuk of the Hamas political bureau. At the same time, the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid a visit to Moscow Iran Ali Bagheri Kani.
Russia does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization, and Hamas leaders visited Moscow twice in the last year – the last time in March this year. Thursday’s visit was the first officially announced since the October 7 attack on Israel.
At least 20 people with Russian citizenship were killed in this attack, and Russians were also among the hostages kidnapped by Hamas.
Main photo source: MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA/PAP