Hamas intends to request Russian aid to relieve humanitarian crisis in Gaza — source

  DOHA:  A Hamas delegation, led by the deputy chairman of the movement’s politburo, Mousa Abu Marzook, plans to request Russia’s assistance...

 

DOHA:  A Hamas delegation, led by the deputy chairman of the movement’s politburo, Mousa Abu Marzook, plans to request Russia’s assistance in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip during its visit to Moscow, a source within the Hamas leadership told TASS.

"We will ask for assistance to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip," the source said, outlining the delegation’s objectives for visit to Moscow, scheduled for February 3. The Palestinian movement also hopes to enlist Russia's support to exert "pressure on the [Israeli] occupier to abide by its commitments," the source said.

The previous visit of the Hamas delegation to Moscow took place in October 2024. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated at the time that Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip with the deputy chairman of the Hamas politburo, paying special attention to the issue of releasing Russian hostages held in the enclave.

This January, Bogdanov held telephone talks with Mousa Abu Marzook and Khaled Mashal, chairman of the Hamas political bureau. On January 24, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that during another conversation with Abu Marzook, Bogdanov reaffirmed Moscow’s interest in prioritizing the release of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov and Donbass native Maxim Kharkin from the Gaza Strip.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on January 15 that Egypt, Qatar and the US brokered a deal between Israel and Hamas to hold a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages from the enclave. During the 42-day first phase of the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody. The name of Russian Alexander Trufanov, who also holds Israeli citizenship, was on a list of 33 hostages published by Kan.

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