Hamas is trying to find eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens who were taken hostage during the Palestinian militant Hamas group’s attack on Israel in order to free them on Moscow’s request, Russian news agencies reported Saturday.
A Hamas representative was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency, “From the Russian side, via the foreign ministry, we received a list of citizens that have dual citizenship. We are looking for those people… It is hard but we are looking. And when we find them, we will let them go.”
According to Israeli officials, the latest escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict started when the Hamas militants crossed into Israel from its southern border on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people.
Israel has responded with relentless air and artillery strikes on Gaza that have killed more than 6,000 people, according to health authorities in Gaza.
Iran, an essential source of financial and military backing for Hamas, praised the October 7 Hamas attack while rejecting any involvement in its planning or execution.
