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Russia–Hamas relations

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Hamas–Russia relations

Hamas
Russia

Russia has diplomatic relations with the political wing of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist organization which rules the Gaza Strip. Russia has not designated Hamas as a terrorist organization,[1] though it has condemned Hamas attacks as "terrorism" and has taken a hard line against Islamist terrorism. Russia has also maintained relations with Israel.

History

Immediate post-Soviet relations

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at a meeting with Russian officials in Moscow in 2022

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia dramatically improved relations with Israel. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the Russian government regularly condemned Hamas attacks, such as the 2004 Beersheba bus bombings that killed 17 people. However, Russia never designated Hamas as a terrorist organization like it did with the Taliban[2] and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. In 2005, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov reaffirmed Russia's position that Russia did not consider Hamas a terrorist group as "an integral part of Palestinian society."

Hamas takeover of Gaza

Relations warmed sharply after the 2006 Palestinian legislative election on 26 January 2006. At his annual press conference on 31 January, After Hamas's victory, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia had never named Hamas a terrorist group, adding that Russia did not "approve and support everything that Hamas does."[2] Putin was among the first world leaders to congratulate the militant group on their victory in the election.[1]

Since 2006, regular meetings have been held between the Hamas politburo and senior Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. Khaled Mashal, Hamas's then political leader was hosted on an official visit to Moscow in March 2006.[2] The following year, in 2007, Putin hosted Mashal in Moscow. Mashal praised Putin for his "courage and manliness."[1] In 2020, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Mashal.[2]

2023 Israel-Hamas war

During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Russia condemned both the initial Hamas attack and Israel's response.[3] Russia maintained relations with both parties and presented itself as a potential mediator.[4]

After the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, which initiated the war, Russia condemned the attack as "terrorism".[3] Putin sent condolences to the families of the killed Israelis[5] and said Israel had a right to defend itself, describing the Hamas attack as "unprecedented in its cruelty".[6] He also condemned the subsequent Israeli bombardments of Gaza[7] and called for a two-state solution to resolve the conflict.[6] Russian UN diplomats later condemned both the Hamas attack on Israel and Israeli shelling of civilian neighborhoods in Gaza.[8] However, Russia voted against a resolution condemning Hamas at the United Nations General Assembly.[9]

Some commentators said that Russia has grown closer to Hamas and more hostile to Israel.[1][10][11] According to The New York Times, Russian state media and leading social networking platforms spread support for Hamas and denigrated Israel and its main ally, the U.S.[12] Putin has said that the war shows "a clear example of the failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East".[13] On 14 October, Hamas thanked Putin for his "position regarding the ongoing Zionist aggression against our people."[14] On 26 October, Moscow hosted a Hamas political delegation, led by Mousa Abu Marzook, which Israel condemned as "a reprehensible step that gives support to terrorism and legitimacy to the horrific acts of Hamas terrorists."[15] Amid the war's hostage crisis, Hamas released kidnapped Russian-Israeli dual nationals. Hamas described these actions as a gesture of appreciation for Russia's support for the Palestinian cause.[16][17]

In December 2023, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Israel's stated goals in its invasion of Gaza were similar to Russia's stated goals in its invasion of Ukraine.[18][19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Why Russia and Hamas Are Growing Closer". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 25 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Рассказываем об истории отношений России с ХАМАС — главным врагом Израиля в эти дни". Meduza (in Russian). 2021-03-21. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Russia calls for international monitoring mission in Gaza". Reuters. 10 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Putin cautions Israel against using tactics in Gaza like Nazi siege of Leningrad". Reuters. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  5. ^ "Putin speaks to Netanyahu about Gaza conflict, promises measures to prevent escalation". The Times of India. 2023-10-18. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  6. ^ a b "Putin Says Israel Has Right to Defend Itself, Calls for a Palestinian State". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  7. ^ "Russia says Israeli bombardment of Gaza is against international law". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  8. ^ "Russia condemns Hamas actions on October 7, but cannot turn a blind eye to Gaza shelling". tass.com. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  9. ^ UN News [@UN_News_Centre]. "Canada-led amendment to the draft resolution on the Gaza crisis fails to pass at the UN General Assembly; it did not achieve two-thirds majority". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  10. ^ "Hamas Attack Ends a Delicate Entente Between Russia and Israel". WSJ. 6 November 2023.
  11. ^ Dubow, Ben (2023-10-26). "Russia Winks to Old Friends in Hamas". CEPA. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  12. ^ Myers, Steven Lee; Frenkel, Sheera (2023-11-03). "In a Worldwide War of Words, Russia, China and Iran Back Hamas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  13. ^ Times, The Moscow (2023-10-10). "Putin Says U.S. Foreign Policy Failure Behind Israel-Hamas War". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  14. ^ "Hamas welcomes Russia's offer for mediation, praises Putin's position". CNN. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  15. ^ Nechepurenko, Ivan (2023-10-26). "Hamas leaders arrive in Moscow as the Kremlin attempts to showcase its clout". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  16. ^ "Hamas thanks Putin for his support as it releases Russian hostage". The Telegraph. 2023-11-26. Archived from the original on 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  17. ^ "Hamas to release two Russian hostages in act of 'appreciation' to Putin". The Times of Israel. 2023-11-29.
  18. ^ "Lavrov appears to liken Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza to Russia's invasion of Ukraine". Times of Israel. 28 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Objectives of Israel's and Russia's Wars 'nearly Identical' – Did Lavrov Shift Position on Gaza?". Palestine Chronicle. 28 December 2023.
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