Russian Foreign Ministry views Israel-Hamas agreement as prerequisite for long-term normalization in Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone
MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - Moscow hopes that the agreement reached between the Israeli government and Hamas will help stabilize the situation in the Gaza Strip and create prerequisites for long-term normalization in the region, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
"We hope that the fulfillment of this agreement will facilitate lasting stabilization in Gaza and create conditions for the return of all internally displaced persons and the start of work on the restoration of what was destroyed during the hostilities," Zakharova said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Russia expects its citizen Alexander Trufanov to be one of the hostages released in the Gaza Sector, she said.
"Hopefully, the implementation of this agreement will be an important practical step towards lasting normalization in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone and create prerequisites for improving the situation in the Middle East as a whole, including Lebanon, Syria and Yemen," Zakharova said.
"We believe that the conclusion of this agreement will help create conditions for starting the process of comprehensive political settlement of the Palestinian problem on the universally recognized international legal basis," she said.
An agreement between the Israeli government and Hamas to free 33 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a group of Palestinian inmates of Israeli prisons was announced on January 15. The agreement, which will be implemented from January 19, envisages a ceasefire throughout Gaza, the launch of phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a significant increase in the supply of fuel, medications and food to Gaza residents.