The Hamas movement operates independently and is not under the control of the Palestinian authorities, and this is something that needs to be recognized, stated Aliya Zaripova, spokeswoman for the Russian Mission to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), during an interview on the Russia-24 TV channel.
"Hamas is not under the control of the Palestinian authorities, and it's crucial to make this distinction," she emphasized.
"Since 2007, Hamas has maintained control over the Gaza Strip, while in the West Bank, de facto power lies with the Fatah movement, which constitutes the majority of the Palestinian leadership," - the diplomat noted. - "These two Palestinian factions have longstanding disagreements, including their approach towards Israel. In this regard, Fatah's stance can be characterized as relatively less radical."
On the morning of October 7, rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, while fighters groups simultaneously infiltrated into Israel. Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh described this as a reaction to the Israeli authorities' aggressive actions near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in central Jerusalem. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reservists and declared a "special security situation." According to the most recent information, the conflict escalation has resulted in over 400 Palestinian casualties and more than 700 Israelis affected, with several thousand individuals sustaining injuries.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: أمين/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS