Hamas are desperately trying to find Russian-Israeli dual citizens who were taken hostage on 7 October when the Palestinian militant group carried out a brutal massacre in southern Israel.
Russian news agencies have reported on Saturday that Hamas are trying to locate the hostages following Moscow’s request.
A Hamas representative was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency, “From the Russian side, via the foreign ministry, we received a list of citizens that have dual citizenship.
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“We are looking for those people… It is hard but we are looking. And when we find them, we will let them go.
“We are very attentive to this list and will process it carefully because we consider Russia to be a closest friend.
“About the peaceful citizens that were taken and that are now in Gaza, we treat them as guests.”
Hamas Politburo member Abu Marzouk told Russian media that many Western countries have asked for their citizens.
Hamas officials held talks on Friday in Moscow and views their request “more positively and attentively than the others, given the character of our relations with Russia.”
The Hamas delegation had met with representatives of Russia’s foreign ministry, the Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Peskov told reporters, “We consider it necessary to continue our contacts with all parties and, of course, we will continue our dialogue with Israel.”
