Russia on Friday defended the decision to invite Hamas representatives to talks in the capital Moscow, after Israel condemned the move and criticized Russia's conduct.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a press briefing that "Russia believes it is necessary to maintain contact with all sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." Peskov added that members of the terrorist organization's delegation met with senior Foreign Ministry officials but not with officials in the Russian presidential office.
Yesterday, it was reported that senior Hamas figures Bassem Naim and Musa Abu Marzouq had arrived in Russia and met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. The Russian newspaper Kommersant quoted senior Hamas official Abu Hamid as saying that the terrorist organization would not be able to release abductees until a ceasefire was established and that it would take time to locate all the abductees taken by various organizations and groups in the Gaza Strip.
According to Hamas' announcement, the delegation discussed Israel's attacks in the Gaza Strip and ways to stop the activities "supported by the United States and the West." The delegation also praised "the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's diplomatic efforts," and stressed "the need for the international community to bear responsibility for the crime committed by the Zionist government." It added that Bogdanov expressed his country's position "supporting the rights of the Palestinian people and reviewed his country's efforts with the relevant parties regarding a ceasefire and the opening of the crossings and the entry of humanitarian aid."
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said in response to the visit by Hamas members: "Hamas is a terrorist organization worse than ISIS. Hamas officials have the hands covered with the blood of more than 1,400 Israelis who were slaughtered, murdered, executed and burned, and are responsible for the abduction of more than 220 Israelis, including babies, children, women and the elderly. Israel regards inviting senior Hamas figures to Moscow as an obscene act that gives a tailwind to terrorism and legitimizes the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists. We call on the Russian government to expel Hamas terrorists immediately."
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