Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Bogdanov held telephone talks with Hamas leadership
Russian presidential representative for the Middle East and Africa and deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov has held telephone talks with the leadership of the Palestinian Hamas movement. This follows from the message published on January 16 on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
It was specified that the conversation took place on January 15. Bogdanov spoke with deputy chairman of the Hamas politburo Musa Abu-Marzouk. In addition, a few days earlier he held a telephone conversation with the chairman of the movement's foreign headquarters Khaled Meshaal.
"On the Russian side, interest was reiterated in prioritizing the release of the Russian citizen held in the enclave, A. Trufanov. Moscow also counts on taking into account our other requests of humanitarian nature, previously transferred to the Hamas leadership," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Bogdanov also noted the importance of continuing work on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Palestinian side during the talks expressed gratitude for the position of the Russian Federation, as well as for the country's efforts to ensure the rights of the Palestinian people. Expectations were also expressed from the agreement reached with Israel on a ceasefire in Gaza.
On January 15, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani announced that an agreement had been reached on a ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. In the first phase, which will last 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, he specified. According to The Wall Street Journal, the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip under the agreement will take place over at least several weeks.
Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog, in turn, called the agreement a correct and necessary step. According to him, the Israeli authorities will seek the return of all captives.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also supported the deal and expressed readiness to assist in its implementation. He also stressed that the organization is "unwavering in its commitment" to peace and stability in the region, and will do everything it can to ensure that civilians are supported.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian Hamas movement launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.
