A Hamas-Russia rapprochement has recently started to take shape despite the decline in Hamas’ regional and international relations, especially after the outbreak of the Arab Spring revolutions in early 2011.

On May 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry praised Hamas’ new policy document, issued on May 1, which it considered a step in the right direction. It also welcomed the election of Ismail Haniyeh as the head of the movement's political bureau on May 6, replacing Khaled Meshaal.

On May 19, Haniyeh phoned Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's deputy foreign minister and special presidential representative for the Middle East, and discussed bilateral relations as well as the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike in Israeli prisons that was happening at the time, the Russian role in achieving national reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, and the new policy document.

Speaking about this rapprochement, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor, “Hamas considers Russia a superpower with great influence on international politics, and the movement is ready to open up to Russia if it serves the Palestinian interests without conflicting with its principles. The two have been in contact over the years, especially since Hamas welcomes any party — except the Israeli occupation — that tries to communicate with it, to achieve Palestinian aspirations for independence.”