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Israel has summoned the Russian ambassador to express its protest against the visit of a Hamas delegation to Moscow following the group's attack on Israel on October 7. The Israeli Foreign Ministry strongly criticized this move, stating that: "Inviting Hamas sends a message that legitimizes terrorism against Israelis." However, it's important to note that the Israeli Foreign Ministry described the ambassador's invitation as a "protest" rather than a "reprimand." On the other hand, Russia's perspective on this matter differs.
Russia described Hamas's visit as an attempt to maintain contacts on all sides of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggesting that it sees this meeting as a diplomatic move to engage with various stakeholders in the conflict.
Russia's approach underscores its efforts to play a diplomatic role in engaging with multiple parties involved
Hamas has previously stated that it was trying to locate eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens who were among more than 200 hostages taken in the October 7 attack on Israel.
This adds a complex layer to the situation, as it indicates that Hamas may have interests beyond the immediate attack. The visit of the Hamas delegation to Moscow has indeed heightened diplomatic tensions. Israel's strong opposition to the visit is rooted in its concerns about legitimizing a group it considers a terrorist organization.
On the other hand, Russia's approach underscores its efforts to play a diplomatic role in engaging with multiple parties involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This disparity in perspectives reflects the broader complexities of the Middle East conflict, where regional and global powers often have contrasting views on how to address the longstanding issues in the region.
"Looking for these people is difficult, but we are looking. And when we find them, we will release them. We are very careful about this list and we will process it carefully because we consider Russia to be a close friend," said senior Hamas representative Musa Abu Marzouk, RIA news agency reports.