Thread by @SamRamani2

Russia hosted a Hamas delegation today

Here is what we know about the meeting /1

The meeting has likely been planned since October 7

Once it was clear that at least 6 of the hostages were Russian citizens, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov called for a meeting with Hamas in Qatar /2

Vladimir Putin's comments warning of the need to stop the Gaza War and Russia's overall position were "highly valued" by the Hamas delegation

But Dmitry Peskov was clear to distance Putin from the meeting, he said it was a Russian Foreign Ministry track project /3

Mousa Abu Marzouk led the delegation

Marzouk faced criminal charges in the US and while he has superficially discussed negotiations with Israel, he sees a Lebanon or Syria-style truce as desirable

A "hudna" that will reheat. Similar to founder Sheik Yassin's views /4

So while Marzouk was the deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau from 1997-2014 before current leader Ismail Haniyeh took his mantle, he is by not much more moderate than the Hamas mainstream

Russia's meeting is not really about peace in Gaza /5

Israel has urged Russia to expel Hamas, so this will sour ties further

But Marzouk engaged with Bogdanov in Qatar, Iranian officials recently and now Russia again, the meeting complements Russia-Iran dialogue on Gaza /6

Qatar remains the primary diplomatic venue for hostage releases and Israel has even been publicly forced to acknowledge Qatar's role

But Russia is trying to play a secondary role, at least in liberating its own citizens and others (some reports highlight non-Russians)/END