Hamas leadership discussed their expectations regarding the agreement with Israel to resolve the Gaza crisis during phone conversations with Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian President's Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister.
“During the discussions, the Palestinian representatives expressed gratitude for Russia's consistent efforts to uphold the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and its principled stance on a just resolution of the Palestinian issue. They also shared their expectations regarding the agreement reached after prolonged negotiations in Doha and Cairo,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The talks involved high-ranking Hamas officials, including Musa Abu Marzouk, Deputy Chairman of Hamas' Political Bureau, and earlier, Khaled Mashal, Chairman of Hamas' Political Bureau Abroad.
Moscow reiterated its interest in the immediate release of Alexander Trufanov, a Russian citizen held in Gaza. “Russia also expects consideration of other humanitarian requests previously conveyed to Hamas leadership,” the statement noted.
The discussions emphasized the importance of fostering intra-Palestinian unity based on the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This platform envisions the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On January 15, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that, through the mediation of Doha, Cairo, and Washington, Hamas and Israel had reached an agreement to release hostages and implement a ceasefire in the enclave. The agreement is set to take effect on Sunday, January 19.
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Based on TASS materials