The deputy foreign minister of Moscow, Mikhail Bogdanov, plans to meet with Hamas representatives in Qatar the next week to discuss the release of Israeli hostages.
Russian diplomat meet Hamas: Moscow has so far offered to serve as a potential mediator while cautiously denouncing violence from both sides in the dispute between Israel and Hamas.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Bogdanov stated that he “did not exclude” meeting with Hamas representatives while on the trip, adding, “If they are interested, we always are in favour of interaction. The meeting would be beneficial for resolving practical matters, such as the release of captives, particularly in current situation.
On October 7, a large group of Hamas terrorists crossed the heavily guarded border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, killing over 1,200 Palestinians and kidnapping about 150 Israelis, foreigners, and dual nationals.
Moscow is able to maintain tight contacts with the Palestinian and Israeli governments.
One day after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested his country’s assistance in finding a solution to the problem, they announced Bogdanov’s efforts.
Putin said on a trip to Kyrgyzstan on Friday, “Russia can (help) because of our positive relations with Israel over the last 15 years.”
Israel, he continued, ran the risk of waging a “unacceptable” siege on Gaza.
The establishment of a Palestinian state, according to the head of Russia, is the only practical means of resolving the problem.
Moscow, whose forces have been engage in combat in Ukraine for nearly 20 months, has blamed the West for the violence in Israel.