Inter-Palestinian Meeting: Moscow to Host Delegates from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, & 12 Other Groups in Late February

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At the end of February, representatives from various Palestinian factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and 12 other groups, are set to convene in Moscow for an “inter-Palestinian meeting“. 

This announcement was made by Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Special Representative for the Middle East and African countries. 

Bogdanov stated that the meeting aims to gather all Palestinian representatives with diverse political positions, including those from Syria, Lebanon, and other regional countries. 

All invited organisations, except for Hamas and Islamic Jihad, are part of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

The proposed meeting, scheduled from February 29th to March 1st, follows an invitation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the Valdai Discussion Club conference. 

The initiative signifies Russia’s diplomatic efforts to engage with a range of Palestinian groups.

In October, Moscow hosted a delegation from Hamas led by a member of the group’s politburo, Abu Marzouk. 

This occurred after the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office refused to recognise Hamas as a terrorist organization.

On a related note, Muhammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, stated that Russia has invited all Palestinian factions to a meeting in Moscow on February 26th. 

He expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue if Hamas is prepared to cooperate, highlighting the urgent need to address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and find a solution. 

Shtayyeh condemned violence against civilians and stressed the importance of achieving peace through diplomatic means.

The recent history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict includes significant escalations, such as the events of October 7th, 2023, when Hamas militants launched attacks on Israel, resulting in casualties and hostage-taking incidents. 

Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas is officially recognised as a terrorist organisation by Israel, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan.

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