It is difficult to define the relations between the Kremlin and the Islamist movement, which Moscow does not describe as terrorist. Actually, this Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its gratitude “to the leaders of Hamas” following the release of two Russian hostages the day before.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the release of the two women “was not linked to the fulfillment of the conditions agreed between Israel and Hamas” for hostages of other nationalities, without communicating the number of Russian hostages remaining in the hands of Hamas. As a reminder, another Russian national was released last week.
On Thursday, October 26, Russia welcomed a Hamas delegation led by one of the members of its political bureau, Moussa Abou Marzouk. After this meeting, Russian diplomatic sources assured press agencies, anonymously, that the question of hostages had been at the heart of the discussions. More broadly, Russia maintains contacts with almost all actors, from the Middle East to the Arab-Persian Gulf, and has above all made a frankly anti-Israeli turn, illustrated by its initiatives at the United Nations. as much as by the official reactions after the Hamas attack.