A senior Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk has reached Moscow on a planned visit, according to Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti.
Abu Marzouk, a member of the Hamas politburo, arrived on Wednesday and is expected to hold a series of meetings with Russian officials. RIA did not disclose further details regarding the nature of the discussions.
Russia maintains relationships with key players across the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, and Hamas.
Moscow has consistently blamed the ongoing Middle East crisis on the failure of U.S. diplomacy and has called for a ceasefire in Gaza along with the resumption of peace talks.
Ties with Russia and China
Abu Marzouk’s visit coincides with the BRICS summit hosted in Kazan, Russia.
Hamas has expressed interest in strengthening its ties with both Russia and China amid the ongoing U.S.-backed Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Khaled Meshaal, a senior Hamas leader, emphasized the group’s aim to foster “cooperation with great powers China and Russia.”
Unlike the Western bloc, Russia, China, and many countries in the Global South do not label Hamas as a “terrorist” organization.
