Iranian deputy foreign minister meets Hamas delegation in Moscow

By Baybars Can

ANKARA (AA) - A delegation from the Hamas group on Friday met with Iranian deputy foreign minister, Ali Bagheri, in the Russian capital of Moscow, according to a report.

The official Iranian IRNA agency reported that Bagheri discussed with Musa Abu Marzouk, a member of the Hamas political bureau, the developments in the Palestinian territories in the light of the Israeli onslaught against Gaza.

IRNA said that Bagheri is in Moscow upon an invitation by the Russian Foreign Ministry, who also met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov on Thursday.

The Hamas senior delegation on Thursday started an official visit to Moscow to meet Russian senior officials including Bogdanov.

Both Russia and Iran are exerting efforts to reach a ceasefire between the Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza, as fighting between them has been taking place for three weeks.

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,800 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar