Hamas is seeking Russian assistance to persuade Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to engage in discussions to establish a national unity government for post-war Gaza. During a meeting in Moscow, Hamas politburo member Mousa Abu Marzouk urged Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to encourage Abbas to initiate negotiations for the formation of a unity government in Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Abbas, governs the occupied Palestinian territories. The PA, established under the Oslo Accords, administers parts of the West Bank. However, there has been tension between the PA and Hamas, which controls Gaza, leading to a brief conflict in 2007 when Fatah was expelled from the territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has objected to the involvement of the PA in governing Gaza. The push for a national unity government in Gaza reflects efforts to foster cooperation and stability in the region post-war.