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Middle East conflict

Hamas thanks Russia for backing Palestinians

Mousa Abu Marzouk and Mikhail Bogdanov exchanged views on the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel and preparations for talks on its second phase, the statement says

CAIRO, February 3. /TASS/. Mousa Abu Marzouk, the Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, has hailed Russia for sticking by the Palestinian people, Hamas said after his meeting with Russia's presidential special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

"During the meeting, Mousa Abu Marzouk praised Russia for supporting the Palestinian people," it said in a statement posted on its Telegram channel.

The sides also discussed "Russia’s contribution to humanitarian assistance to Gaza" and called for efforts to satisfy "all urgent needs of the population" in the Palestinian enclave, in particular to deliver basic-needs products and tents which could be used to temporarily house the displaced.

Marzouk and Bogdanov also exchanged views on the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel and preparations for talks on its second phase, Hamas added.

The Russian foreign ministry said earlier in the day that the issue of the release of Russian national Alexander Trufanov and other hostages from Gaza captivity was among the topics discussed by Bogdanov and Marzouk.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect on January 19. On the same day, Hamas released the first three Israeli women. During the first 42-day phase of the deal, Hamas will release at least 33 hostages in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Russian national Alexander Trufanov, who is also an Israeli citizen, is among the 33 hostages to be released by Hamas.

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