Russian foreign minister meets Hamas leader in Moscow

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia's foreign minister discussed on Monday issues of mutual interest with Hamas political chief.

The meeting between Sergey Lavrov and Ismail Haniyeh, which was held in Moscow, deliberated on the situation in Gaza Strip and inter-Palestinian reconciliation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"Ways to restore Palestinian national unity on the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) were discussed in detail," said a statement posted on the ministry's website.

"Various aspects of the current situation around the Gaza Strip were also considered, including in the context of efforts to achieve a lasting and comprehensive Middle East settlement on an internationally recognized legal basis," it added.

Last week Lavrov met Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of the Palestinian Fatah movement’s central committee, in the Russian capital.

The meetings came in the wake of a so-called Middle East "peace plan" announced by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year, which recognized Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital."

The plan was rejected by Palestine, Arab League as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Palestinian territories are under Israeli occupation since 1967.