The Russian President's Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, met in Moscow with the Deputy Chairman of the Political Committee of "Hamas" Musa Abu Marzuk, TASS reported, quoted by BTA, citing a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
At the meeting, Bogdanov stressed the importance of the release of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov and other hostages from captivity in Gaza.
"The Russian side once again emphasized the need for priority fulfillment of the promises made by the Hamas leadership regarding the release of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov and other hostages held in the Gaza Strip," the ministry's statement said.
The parties discussed "the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the importance of increasing humanitarian assistance to the affected Palestinian population." In addition, the "importance of continuing purposeful work in the interests of achieving Palestinian unity as soon as possible under the political platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.
Amid the cessation of fighting in Gaza, the Palestinians are calling for billions of dollars in humanitarian aid, as they need heavy machinery to clear the rubble to tents and caravans to accommodate people left homeless by Israeli bombing, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
A Palestinian Authority official believes that immediate funding needs amount to 6.5 billion. dollars for temporary housing for more than two million people in Gaza, before the massive task of long-term reconstruction of the enclave begins.
US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff estimated last week that reconstruction could take 10-15 years. But before that happens, Gazans will need somewhere to live, Reuters reports.
"Hamas", the militant Palestinian group that has been moving quickly to retake control of Gaza since a temporary ceasefire began last month, says Gaza is in immediate need of 200,000 tents and 60,000 caravans.
In the Egyptian town of El Arish, not far from the Rafah crossing with Gaza, about 1,000 trucks carrying aid, including food, medical supplies, caravans and tents, are lined up waiting to enter Gaza.
Two Egyptian sources said heavy machinery to clear the rubble was waiting at the border crossing and would likely be sent into Gaza on Monday.
Antoine Renard, a World Food Programme official, said food imports into Gaza were has increased since the ceasefire and is now two or three times higher than the monthly levels before the truce began. However, he said there were still obstacles to importing medical equipment and shelter equipment, as Israel believes they have the potential to be used for "dual use" - civilian or military.
More than half a million people who fled northern Gaza have returned to their homes, many with nothing more than what they can carry in their hands. They have been confronted with an unrecognizable wasteland of rubble where their houses once stood, Reuters reported.