MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Deputy Overseas Minister Mikhail Bogdanov demanded the discharge of hostages held in Gaza in phone calls on Sunday and Monday with Hamas and different Palestinian factions, the Russian overseas ministry stated.
The assertion adopted a sequence of conferences and calls between President Vladimir Putin and Center East leaders prior to now week.
The ministry stated Bogdanov’s conversations highlighted the navy and humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza, the place Russia “confirmed its principled place on the necessity to stop hostilities and urgently resolve all humanitarian issues which have arisen, together with the discharge of hostages”.
The assertion didn’t clarify whether or not Russia sought the discharge of all hostages seized by Hamas throughout its Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israel or simply the discharge of any Russian nationals amongst them.
The minister spoke to senior figures within the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the Palestinian Democratic Union, the Well-liked Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine, and Hamas.
Bogdanov burdened the necessity to restore Palestinian unity “within the framework of the PLO” and reaffirmed Moscow’s help for a Palestinian state to co-exist alongside Israel, the assertion stated.
Russia referred to as on Sunday for a global monitoring mission to go to Gaza to evaluate the humanitarian state of affairs.
Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov stated Moscow strongly condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel, nevertheless it was unacceptable for Israel to make use of that as justification for “the collective punishment of thousands and thousands of Palestinian individuals with indiscriminate shelling”.
Analysts say the Gaza warfare has proved useful to Russia by distracting the world’s consideration from its warfare in Ukraine and making it more durable for Kyiv to compete for Washington’s consideration and navy support.
Putin has additionally used it as a possibility to criticise the failings of U.S. diplomacy within the Center East and lift Russia’s personal profile as a regional participant with ties to all the principle actors.
Putin has stepped up his personal contacts prior to now week, although the purpose of his newest diplomatic flurry will not be but clear.
He spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyuhu on Sunday, having final week met the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.
(Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark Trevelyan; Modifying by Gareth Jones)
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