Russian Ambassador Defends Kremlin Contacts with Hamas Amid Humanitarian Efforts

Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov has rejected Israeli public criticism regarding Moscow's contacts with Hamas, emphasizing that these channels serve humanitarian purposes, including aiding in the release of hostages. Speaking in an interview with RTVI, a Russian-language international broadcaster, Viktorov stated that Russia never supported terrorism and does not view Hamas as a creation or proxy of Russian activity. He attributed Hamas's existence to the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stressed that severing ties would hinder Russia's humanitarian efforts, particularly concerning Israeli hostages, some of whom hold Russian citizenship.

Viktorov acknowledged that Russia does not share Israel's stance on Hamas's status but maintains relations with various Palestinian factions to promote political unity under the Palestine Liberation Organization framework. He expressed support for a peaceful two-state solution and called for an end to violence. Regarding the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Viktorov advocated stabilizing the situation and addressing humanitarian issues first, warning against unilateral decisions by external mediators and underscoring the need for regional and international involvement.

The ambassador also commented on the appointment of Roman Gofman as head of Israel's Mossad, noting his personal acquaintance with Gofman and the importance of continued security cooperation between Russia and Israel. He confirmed ongoing intelligence collaboration on shared threats despite broader geopolitical tensions. Viktorov downplayed the impact of Israel's upcoming October 27 elections on bilateral relations, highlighting that security and regional issues dominate Israeli politics rather than Russia-related topics.

Despite strained ties due to the Ukraine conflict, Viktorov praised Israel for not joining Western sanctions against Russia or supplying lethal aid to Ukraine. He expressed hope for the resumption of direct flights between Israel and Russia, including El Al and Aeroflot services, while noting current limited flights by Red Wings Airlines. Finally, he affirmed that Russia remains a key grain supplier to Israel and does not foresee disruptions in agricultural trade cooperation.