Hamas delegation arrives in Russia

Adam Lucente

Oct 26, 2023

Fatah movement official Azzam al-Ahmad (L), in charge of his party's reconciliation team, Abed al-Hafeez Nofal (C), the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow, and exiled Hamas deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzuq (R) give a press conference along with other representatives of Palestinian political parties and movements in Moscow on Jan. 17, 2017. — ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images

Hamas and Iranian officials are currently in Moscow and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas could soon follow, Kremlin officials said on Thursday as Russia navigates the war in Gaza.

A Hamas delegation led by Hamas' international relations chief Moussa Abu Marzouk met with Russian Foreign Ministry officials. The discussion focused on the release of foreign hostages from Gaza as well as the evacuation of Russian citizens and foreigners from the enclave, Russia's official news agency TASS reported.

The Russian Embassy said on Oct. 14 that 16 Russian citizens were killed as a result of Hamas' attack on Israel, while another eight are missing. At least one Russian-Israeli citizen is being held in Gaza, according to TASS. More than 200 Israelis were taken hostage after Hamas' attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 and are currently being held captive in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has so far released four of the hostages.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned Hamas' visit to Russia in a statement on Thursday.