Russia–Hamas relations

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It has been suggested that this article be merged into Palestine–Russia relations. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2023.

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Bilateral relations

Hamas–Russia relations

Hamas |
Russia

Russia has friendly relations with Hamas, the militant Palestinian Islamist organization which rules the Gaza Strip. Though Russia has taken tough stances on Islamist terrorism, Russia has never designated Hamas a terrorist organization like many countries have done.[1]

## History[edit]

### Immediate post-Soviet relations[edit]

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] 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[edit]

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]

Despite supporting opposite sides of the Syrian Civil War, Russia's official position toward Hamas did not change.

### 2023 Israel-Hamas war[edit]

Following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war, Russia has grown closer to Hamas and more hostile to Israel,[1][3][4] despite maintaining relations with both parties and presenting itself as a mediator.[5]

After the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, which initiated the war, Putin sent his condolences to the families of the killed Israelis[6] and said Israel had a right to defend itself, describing the Hamas attack as "unprecedented in its cruelty".[7] He also condemned the subsequent Israeli bombardments of Gaza[8] and called for a two-state solution to resolve the conflict.[7] Russian UN diplomats later condemned both the Hamas attack on Israel and Israeli shelling of civilian neighborhoods in Gaza.[9] However, Russia voted against a resolution condemning Hamas at the United Nations General Assembly.[10]

During the war, Russia has used its state media and leading social networking platforms to support Hamas and denigrate Israel and its main ally, the U.S.[11] Putin has said that the war shows "a clear example of the failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East".[12] On 14 October, Hamas thanked Putin for his "position regarding the ongoing Zionist aggression against our people."[13]

On 26 October, Moscow hosted a high-ranking Hamas 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."[14]

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.[15][16]

## See also[edit]

* Russia portal
* Palestine portal
* Politics portal

* Israel–Russia relations
* Palestine–Russia relations
* Russia and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict

## References[edit]

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. ^ "Hamas Attack Ends a Delicate Entente Between Russia and Israel". WSJ. 6 November 2023.
4. ^ Dubow, Ben (2023-10-26). "Russia Winks to Old Friends in Hamas". CEPA. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
5. ^ "Putin cautions Israel against using tactics in Gaza like Nazi siege of Leningrad". Reuters. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
6. ^ "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.
7. ^ a b "Putin Says Israel Has Right to Defend Itself, Calls for a Palestinian State". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
8. ^ "Russia says Israeli bombardment of Gaza is against international law". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
9. ^ "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.
10. ^ 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.
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ Times, The Moscow (2023-10-10). "Putin Says U.S. Foreign Policy Failure Behind Israel-Hamas War". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
13. ^ "Hamas welcomes Russia's offer for mediation, praises Putin's position". CNN. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
14. ^ 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.
15. ^ "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.
16. ^ "Hamas to release two Russian hostages in act of 'appreciation' to Putin". The Times of Israel. 2023-11-29.

## External links[edit]

* Media related to Relations of Russia and Hamas at Wikimedia Commons

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* v
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Hamas

History|

* Hamas Charter
* Emblem
* Flag
* Fatah–Hamas conflict
* Takeover of the Gaza Strip
* 25th anniversary of Hamas (2012)

Political wing|

* Khaled Mashal
* Ismail Haniyeh
* Yahya Sinwar
* Ali Baraka
* Mousa Abu Marzook
* Hamas Government in Gaza
* Palestinian Legislative Council

| Elections|

* 2005 presidential
* 2006 legislative

|

Military wing|

* Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
* Nukbha

| Operations|

* Murder of Yaron and Efrat Ungar
* Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing
* 2001 Immanuel bus attack
* 2004 Ashdod Port bombings
* IDF outpost bombing
* 2006 Gaza cross-border raid
* Gaza War (2008–2009)
* August 2010 West Bank shooting attack
* 2012 Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip
* 2014 Gaza War
* 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
* 2023 attack on Israel
* 2023 Israel–Hamas war

|

Weapons|

* Al-Bana
* Batar
* Qassam rocket
* Yasin (RPG)

|

Social services|

* Islamic University of Gaza
* Mujama al-Islamiya
* Palestinian Authority Martyrs Fund

Media|

* Al-Aqsa TV
* Tomorrow's Pioneers
* Al-Aqsa Voice Radio
* Al-Quds TV
* Shehab News Agency

Foreign relations|

* Support from (Iran
* Qatar
* Turkey)
* Russia

Related articles|

* Criticism of Hamas

Category:Hamas

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Iran–Israel proxy conflict

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Related|

* Russia and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict
* Russia–Hamas relations
* Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
* Ahmad Reza Djalali
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* Israel and state-sponsored terrorism
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Category:Iran–Israel proxy conflict
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