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Middle East conflict

Russian envoy meets Hamas delegates, stresses importance of hostages’ release

"The Russian side reiterated the necessity for the Hamas leadership to fulfill its promises regarding the release of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov and other hostages held in the Gaza Strip," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Russia's presidential special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, emphasized the importance of securing the release of Russian national Alexander Trufanov and other hostages from captivity in Gaza during a meeting in Moscow with Mousa Abu Marzouk, the Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau.

"The Russian side reiterated the necessity for the Hamas leadership to fulfill its promises regarding the release of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov and other hostages held in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing this as a matter of priority," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated in a news release.

The two sides also discussed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, highlighting the critical need to increase humanitarian aid to the affected Palestinian population.

Additionally, both parties stressed the importance of continuing systematic efforts to achieve inter-Palestinian unity as soon as possible, focusing on the political framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which envisions the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

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