'Israel' summons Russian envoy over Hamas delegation visit to Moscow

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Oct 2023 23:59
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The Israeli occupation Foreign Ministry summons Russian Ambassador Anatoly Viktorov to protest the Hamas visit.

Hamas delegation to Russia during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow on October 26, 2023. (Hamas Telegram channel)

Russian Ambassador to "Israel" Anatoly Viktorov was summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry on Sunday morning to protest the visit of a Hamas delegation to Moscow, the occupation ministry confirmed.

A Hamas delegation headed by Mousa Abu Marzouq, the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas, visited Moscow on October 26.

"Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov was summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem this morning to protest the visit of a Hamas delegation to Moscow," the ministry said in a statement.

It continued, "Ambassador Simona Halperin, the foreign ministry's deputy director general for Eurasian affairs, explained to the ambassador that Israel views with the utmost seriousness the lack of unequivocal and clear condemnation by Moscow of the Hamas terrorist organization, as well as Russia's actions in international organizations."

The Israeli occupation ministry claimed that "hosting Hamas leaders who are directly responsible for the bloody October 7 terror attack, hostage-taking and murder of more than 1,400 Israelis gives the impression of legitimizing terrorism against Israelis."

The ministry had condemned Moscow for receiving a delegation of the Palestinian movement to discuss the release of captives held by Al-Qassam Brigades and the evacuation of Russian citizens from the Gaza Strip and demanded its immediate expulsion from Russia.

Mousa Abu Marzouq, the deputy head of the political bureau of the Palestinian movement Hamas, told Sputnik that the Hamas delegation has discussed the future of the region different from the one "depicted by the United States."

Hamas representatives said during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov that they highly appreciated Russian President Vladimir Putin's position and Russia's diplomatic efforts.

During the meeting, the Palestinian and the Russian sides discussed ways to stop "the crimes of Israel supported by the West," Hamas indicated.

A member of the political office of Hamas, Husam Badran, told Sputnik that "Russia can play a greater role in ending the aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip and applying international pressure to deliver urgent aid to our people in the Gaza Strip."