Moscow – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that Hamas had committed serious crimes in taking over the Gaza Strip and warned that there could be no reconciliation without an apology from the radical Islamic group.
Abbas’ comments came as he wrapped up a trip to Moscow, where he received the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The international community has lined up behind Abbas and the West Bank-based government he installed after Hamas wrested control of Gaza in June.
The Islamic group committed “a grave crime; they must apologize before their people for these crimes,” Abbas said during a news conference at the end of the three-day visit, which has highlighted Russia’s rising influence in Middle East diplomacy.
Last year, Moscow, a member of the Quartet of Mideast negotiators, attracted the ire of Israel and Western nations by hosting Hamas’ leadership for talks. The Quartet also includes the United States, the United Nations and the European Union.
There has been speculation that Hamas leaders are planning to visit Moscow on the coattails of Abbas’ trip.
Abbas has been viewed as using the Moscow trip to garner support for his Fatah government in the standoff. But in an interview published Tuesday in the daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta, he said Russia was free to decide whether to maintain contacts with Hamas.
“This is an affair for Russia as a sovereign state and does not create any problems for our bilateral relations,” he said.
At a meeting Monday in the Kremlin, Putin endorsed Abbas’ leadership.
“I want to assure you that Russia will support you as the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people. I am convinced that you will do everything to restore the unity of the Palestinian people,” Putin told Abbas.
