In what appears as a new step in the rivalry between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to mark diplomatic achievements, a delegation led by former Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal met with top Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.
The meeting included the Russian Ambassador to Qatar Nurmakhmad Kholov and Musa Abu Marzouk, who heads Hamas international relations efforts, and Prof. Sami Hatter, the group's Kremlin liaison.
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According to Arab media, the Hamas delegation expressed its disapproval of the US's Middle East peace plan, which they said "violates the Palestinian people's rights, including the right of return, and the desire to establish an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty."
Hamas sources were quoted as saying that Bogdanov expressed "Russia's support for the Palestinian people," stating that Moscow "is at the disposal of the Palestinian people and support its legitimate aspirations."
