A senior official from the Palestinian militant group Hamas has indicated that they are seeking Russia‘s assistance in urging Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to initiate discussions regarding a national unity government for Gaza in the aftermath of the conflict. This statement was made to the RIA state news agency following a meeting in Moscow.

Mousa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas’s politburo, held talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. Marzouk noted that their discussions focused on the importance of Palestinian national unity and the establishment of a governing body for the Gaza Strip post-war, as reported by RIA.

He further mentioned that Hamas has requested Russia to motivate Abbas, who is currently participating in the BRICS summit in Kazan, to commence negotiations for a unity government. Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs the occupied Palestinian territories. The PA was established three decades ago through the Oslo Accords and has limited authority over certain areas of the occupied West Bank, which Palestinians envision as the foundation for a future independent state.

The Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Abbas’ Fatah political faction, has historically experienced a tense relationship with Hamas, the Islamist group governing Gaza. This discord culminated in a brief conflict that resulted in Fatah’s expulsion from the region in 2007.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced significant resistance to the idea of the PA participating in the administration of Gaza.