Israel condemns Moscow's hosting Hamas delegation

Israel has strongly condemned the visit to Moscow of representatives of Hamas and demanded that the Russian authorities immediately expel them from the country.

The relevant statement was issued on October 26 by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

“Israel views inviting Hamas leaders to Moscow as an undignified step that gives a tailwind to terror and legitimizes the atrocities of Hamas terrorists. We call on the Russian government to immediately expel Hamas terrorists,” TASS quotes the ministry as saying.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, “Hamas is a terrorist organization that is worse than IS” (“Islamic State”).

"The hands of Hamas leaders are stained with the blood of more than 1,400 Israelis who were stabbed, killed, shot, and burned. They are responsible for the abduction of more than 220 Israelis, including infants, children, women and the elderly," the statement said.

Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova reported that representatives of the Palestinian movement Hamas are on a visit to Moscow.

The Hamas delegation met in the Russian capital with the special representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov.

The Russian side, in particular, discussed at a meeting with representatives of the movement the release of hostages and the evacuation of Russians from the Gaza Strip.