Russia has reiterated its readiness to host a reconciliation conference between rival Palestinian factions.

In a phone call with the Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, Russia’s special envoy to the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov discussed the possibility of holding a comprehensive Palestinian reconciliation meeting in Russian capital Moscow.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Bogdanov had reiterated Russia’s “strong and firm intention to restore Palestinian national unity as soon as possible and find a solution to the Palestinian issue following international law”.

“Bogdanov stressed that Russia is ready to go on establishing intensive contacts with all the leading Palestinian political forces and organise a comprehensive Palestinian meeting in Moscow,” the statement added.

The Foreign Ministry also stated that Haniyeh briefed the Russian side on the latest situation in the besieged Gaza Strip and stressed the need to improve the social and economic situation of the enclave’s citizens, pointing to Egyptian efforts to this end.

Haniyeh was supposed to arrive in Moscow on 15 January, but his visit was postponed until further notice. Neither party offered an explanation as to why the visit had been cancelled.

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