Israel summoned on Sunday the Russian ambassador to protest Moscow's reception last week of a delegation from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that its senior staff told Ambassador Anatoly Viktorov that Hamas' call sends a message that legitimizes what it called terrorism against Israelis, describing the summons as a protest rather than a rebuke.
Last Friday, Russia clarified its position on inviting the Hamas delegation to visit Moscow, noting that it maintains channels of communication with all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The statement came after Israel expressed displeasure at Moscow's invitation to Hamas, calling the visit "regrettable."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Hamas delegation had met with representatives of the Foreign Ministry, but not President Vladimir Putin. Peskov stressed that Moscow would continue its dialogue with Israel.
In turn, the Russian Embassy in Israel issued a statement earlier in which it reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all detainees held by Hamas, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip, which Israel is intensively bombarding for the 23rd day, leaving thousands of dead and wounded and massive destruction of residential buildings and vital facilities.
Viktorov said last week that his country was in contact with Hamas to release the prisoners it is holding in the Gaza Strip.
The Russian newspaper Izvestia quoted Viktorov as saying: "We have contacts with representatives of Hamas, these contacts are aimed above all to rescue the hostages from the places where they are now."
Abu Marzouq (right) explained that the Hamas delegation's visit to Moscow came in light of the complicated situation in the region (social media)
Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said Moscow wanted to provide services on the prisoners' issue, but Israel did not welcome the Russian role.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Net, Abu Marzouq said that Russia "has provided a great service to the Palestinian people by not describing the resistance as terrorism, and not criminalizing Hamas because of its struggle to liberate its people and return home."
Hamas had valued – in mid-October – the Russian president's position on the continuous Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
"We appreciate the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the continuous aggression against our people and his rejection of the siege of Gaza, cutting off relief supplies and targeting peaceful civilians in it," she said in a statement at the time, stressing that she welcomed "Russia's tireless efforts aimed at stopping the barbaric and systematic aggression against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."