MOSCOW. Hamas is ready for a “ceasefire” as long as the international community pushes Israel to stop the use of force in the area of the al-Aqsa mosque and its “illegal” activities against Arab citizens. This was stated by the Russian deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, following a telephone conversation with the vice president of the political office of Hamas, Abu Marzook.
“Russia stressed that it is important to stop the violence immediately and that attacks on civilians are unacceptable regardless of their ethnic or religious background”, explained Bogdanov, according to whom Marzook assured him that Hamas leaders are “willing to stop any activity against Israel on a reciprocal basis as long as the international community puts the necessary pressure on Israel to stop the use of force in the Al-Aqsa mosque complex in East Jerusalem and illegal measures against native Arab residents.