Status: 26.10.2023, 18:17 PM
By: Victoria Krumbeck
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Russia demanded the immediate release of all Hamas hostages. According to one report, Russian agents are said to be among the detainees.
Tel Aviv/Moscow – Since the attack on Israel on October 7, more than 220 people have been kidnapped by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas, according to Israeli figures. Many hostages are still being held. According to the Israeli online medium Makorrishon, seven Russian agents of the foreign intelligence service SWR are among the hostages. Contact with the agents is said to have been broken off for two weeks.
War in Israel: Russian agents among Hamas hostages?
Russia called on Hamas to release all hostages. "All hostages must be released urgently and immediately. That is our firm position. In any case, we call on Hamas to ensure that all hostages are released," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday (24 October). Moscow is using all possibilities to negotiate "with all sides involved in the conflict" about the release of Russian citizens, as reported by the Russian news agency Tass.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin is demanding the release of all hostages held by Hamas. © Sergei Bobylev/dpa
The Israeli newspaper Makorrishon interprets Peskov's announcement as a 180-degree turn in its approach so far. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip to Leningrad, which was besieged by the Nazis. He also blamed the US for the escalation in the Middle East. Hamas even publicly thanked the Kremlin chief for his efforts. The alleged kidnapping of the agents appears to be influencing Russia's handling of the current conflict in Israel.
Israel War: Russian Citizens Held in Hamas Captivity
As the dpa reported, Russia's deputy foreign minister is said to have spoken with Hamas representatives in Qatar about the release of the hostages on Thursday. According to official Russian sources, at least two people with Russian citizenship are among the Hamas hostages. As Makorrishon wrote, Moscow is said to have contacted Israel to clarify the disappearance of the agents. According to the assessments of a senior Israeli official, the Kremlin's change of tone was due to the alleged hostage-taking of the agents.
According to the online medium's source, the Russian agents were stationed in Gaza about two months ago. They were supposed to report on the political, military and socio-economic situation in Gaza. Since the outbreak of the Israeli war, Russia has repeatedly offered itself as a mediator, as a large number of Russian citizens live in Israel and the country maintains relations with the Arab world. (UK)