Senior Hamas official congratulates Putin on his victory in election, hopes to develop cooperation

The chairman of Hamas's political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, has congratulated Vladimir Putin on winning the Russian presidential election, the Russian news agency TASS reports.

In his congratulatory message, Haniyeh expressed hope for strengthening the ties of friendship and developing cooperation with Russia." Haniyeh also wished the Russian president "success, including in the interest of the Russian people and the world, as well as on the path of building a multipolar world order where oppressed peoples are treated fairly."

Earlier, Hamas politburo member Basem Naim told RIA Novosti that Vladimir Putin's victory in the presidential elections in Russia serves the strategic interests of Palestinians and the Middle East region as a whole. He added that Putin's reelection demonstrates the Russian people's trust in him, especially considering the "direct attack on Russia as a state and personally on President Putin" by the collective West led by the United States.

Neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor President Isaac Herzog congratulated Vladimir Putin on his reelection victory.

The Russian authorities do not recognize Hamas or Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations. Moscow continues to maintain regular contact with the leadership of Hamas and Islamic Jihad at the level of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Hamas leaders. Vladimir Putin refrains from public personal contacts with representatives of Hamas. Khaled Mashal, who headed the Hamas politburo for many years, visited Moscow several times. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Mashal twice in Damascus.

Ismail Haniyeh was first received by the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry in March 2020, followed by their meeting in September 2022. Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly met in Moscow with Haniyeh's deputy, Mousa Abu Marzook. In January 2017, Lavrov called representatives of the Fatah leadership, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad his "dear guests and dear friends."

Following the October 7 massacre, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly hosted Hamas delegations. Moscow credits itself with the release of some Russian citizens who were held captive by terrorists in Gaza.

Many analysts note that the current war in Israel played into the hands of the Russian authorities as it diverted attention from the war in Ukraine and also led to a reduction in military assistance to Ukraine.