Mousa Abu Marzouk, the Deputy Head of Hamas's Political Bureau, has expressed that the Palestinian movement governing in the Gaza Strip does not plan to retain its prisoners of war. Instead, they are actively seeking a new agreement for the exchange of captives.
As reported by Sputnik, a Hamas delegation led by Abu Marzouk engaged in discussions with Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, in Moscow. The focus of the talks was on exploring avenues to establish a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, highlighted that during the conversation with Abu Marzouk, Bogdanov underscored the imperative of releasing non-combatants held by Palestinian groups, including three Russian citizens.
Abu Marzouk expressed, "We do not wish to retain the prisoners of war in our custody. We aim for an agreement that aligns with the expectations of our people. Ultimately, Israel will be compelled to engage in negotiations."
Previously, NBC, based on its sources, indicated that a forthcoming prisoner exchange deal is anticipated, though it is not expected to occur before a few weeks.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged both parties to halt the ongoing armed conflicts. According to Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia, resolving the Middle East crisis is contingent upon the "two-state" solution endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, establishing an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with its capital in East Beit ol-Moqaddas.
The ongoing dispute between the Zionist regime and Palestine, rooted in the territorial interests of Israeli regime, has been a longstanding cause of tension and conflict in the region. The United Nations' decision, shaped by the active involvement of the Soviet Union in 1947, aimed at establishing two states - Israel and Palestine. However, only Israel came into existence. Despite expressing support for the concept of a two-state solution, the Zionist regime did not fully grant freedom to Palestinian territories.