Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military aide visited Moscow to seek assistance in securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. The purpose of the visit was to advance negotiations for the release of Alexander Lobanov and other hostages. The outcome of the visit remains unknown as of now.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office claimed that Lobanov, a dual Israeli-Russian national, was killed while in captivity. Netanyahu blamed Hamas for refusing all negotiation proposals and hindering efforts for a hostage release deal.
Efforts led by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a truce with Hamas have been slow, prompting Netanyahu’s aide to seek progress in Moscow. Reports suggest that Russian President Putin has been in contact with Hamas regarding hostages with Russian citizenship.
Despite ongoing negotiations, Hamas has consistently rejected peace proposals, including a recent updated deal framework from the US. The latest attempts to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza have also failed, with reports indicating that an Israeli delegation left Doha without an agreement.
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