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What Russia has to gain from relations with Hamas

Russia's recent steps to further its rapprochement with Hamas are connected to its existing alliance with Iran and the overall situation in the region.
From L: Abed al-Hafeez Nofal, the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow, and exiled Hamas deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzuq give a press conference along with other representatives of Palestinian political parties and movements in Moscow on January 17, 2017. / AFP / Alexander NEMENOV        (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Russian Ambassador to Iran Luan Jagaryan said Aug. 1 that Hamas is a national movement and one of the main representatives of the Palestinian people, and that Moscow does not consider it a terrorist organization.

Jagaryan made this statement during a meeting with Khaled Kaddoumi, the Hamas representative in Iran, who stressed Russia's pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian people.

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