INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Moscow thanked the Hamas militant group on Thursday for freeing two Russian hostages from Gaza, which was organized separately from a truce
deal with Israel.The statement came a day after Hamas released two Russian citizens, both women, in what it said was a move "in
appreciation" of President Vladimir Putin."We are grateful to the leadership of the Hamas movement for the positive response to our constant
appeals," the Russian Foreign Ministry said."We will continue to strive for the speedy release of the remaining Russians held in the Gaza
Strip," it added.The two women were handed over to the Red Cross in Egypt via the Rafah crossing on Wednesday.Last week, Hamas released
another Russian citizen, Ron Krivoy, who was working as a sound operator at the Supernova festival in Israel when Hamas attacked.He was also
freed separately from the truce deal with Israel."We note that the Russian citizens were given the possibility to come home without being
bound by the fulfillment of the conditions agreed upon between Israel and Hamas," Moscow said.It did not say in its statement how many
Russian citizens remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza.Unlike most Western countries, Russia does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist
organization, and Putin has repeatedly called for the creation of a Palestinian state.
