Russia to host talks entailing Palestinian factions

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
17 Feb 2024 00:28
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Invitees include representatives from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah movements.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov speaks with journalists prior to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 (AP)

Russia revealed on Friday that it has invited Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah, and other organization leaders for talks regarding the Israeli war on Gaza, in Moscow on February 29.

In recent years, Moscow has striven to maintain positive relations with Israeli and Palestinian actors alike, but relations with "Israel" have deteriorated because of its genocide in Gaza and its rejection of the formation of a Palestinian state.

In this context, Russia's deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, announced inter-Palestinian talks starting on 29 February in Moscow, particularly with the Islamic Jihad and Hamas movements, both of whom are considered terrorist organizations by "Israel" and the West.

He also stated that talks would extend till the first or second of March.

Another Kremlin special envoy to the Middle East also clarified that Moscow called on all of the representatives from the Palestinian factions and all political powers with international representatives, including Syria, Lebanon, and Hamas.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was also invited.

In December, Russia and the United Arab Emirates discussed coordinated efforts to resolve the war on Gaza by creating an independent Palestine and establishing a political solution to the regional crises in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.

'Israel' driving 'entire Middle East' into catastrophe

A few days ago, at the 13th annual Middle East Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that Russia does not see any possibility for a quick stabilization in Gaza, especially since "Israel" plans to extend its invasion.

The event titled “Time for Decisive Action: A Comprehensive Settlement for the sake of stability in the region” is supported by the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"Taking into account the uncompromising attitude of the Israeli leadership to continue the military operation in Gaza, now extending it to Rafah, we do not see prospects for the rapid stabilization of the situation in this sector," Lavrov stressed.

He urged to search for a solution to put an end to the disasters, saying that it is the US that is "pushing Palestine, Israel, and the entire Middle East into a catastrophe" and that the US plans on marginalizing Russia from international efforts for a Middle East crisis settlement because it is working on its own plans in the region.