Nebenzia at the UN Security Council meeting welcomed the release of a Hamas hostage

Russia's permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, said on Wednesday, May 14, that Moscow welcomes the release of hostage Idan Alexander by the Palestinian Hamas movement and called it a "prologue" to restart the peace process.

"We welcome the release by Hamas of the American-Israeli hostage Idan Alexander. We hope that this gesture of goodwill will contribute to the early achievement of an agreement between Hamas and Israel through the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States," TASS quoted the diplomat as saying at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the Middle East.

At the same time, Nebenzia noted that during active hostilities, establishing full-fledged humanitarian access and ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers is an impossible task.

"We would like to once again call on the parties to immediately and unconditionally cease fire and resume the second phase of negotiations, providing for the release of forcibly detained persons and the withdrawal of Israeli units from Gaza," he added.

Peace order: Hamas is set for a partial deal on Gaza

Positive dynamics have emerged in the negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

On May 11, Hamas representatives expressed their intention to release U.S. citizen Eden Alexander. Dmitry Gendelman, adviser to the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed these plans. According to him, this action on the part of Hamas is "a gesture of goodwill to the American side." The Egyptian and Qatari authorities also welcomed Hamas' decision.

On May 12, it was reported that Idan Alexander had been handed over to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The hostage transfer took place in the southern Gaza Strip and was carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigade unit, which is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of Hamas hostages.