Israel and Hamas unite in condemning ISIS attack in Moscow

Israeli President Isaac Herzog “strongly condemned the barbaric terrorist attack” by the Islamic State (IS) in Moscow that killed at least 143 people, which the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas also rejected this Saturday.

The Duke spoke with the Russian ambassador to Israel to convey “on behalf of the Israeli people, condolences to the families of the victims, the Russian people and their leaders for the terrible loss of life” in Friday night’s attack, which has already been reported by EI.

“Terrorism of any kind, especially jihadist terror, indiscriminately attacks all people, of all faiths and religions, spreading fear and destruction,” the Israeli head of state said.

Herzog also stressed that the fight against terrorism is “an important international problem that the countries of the world must fight together.”

Israel has been waging war in the Gaza Strip against Hamas for more than five months following the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israeli soil by the movement, considered terrorist by the European Union and the United States, which left some 1,200 people dead and more than 250 hostages.

The military offensive launched by Israel in the Gaza Strip since then has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, according to medical sources in the enclave controlled by the Islamist group.

Hamas also issued a statement this Saturday “condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attack targeting civilians in the Russian capital Moscow, which left dozens of people dead and injured.”

The Islamist group, which de facto rules the Gaza Strip, expressed its “sincere condolences to the Russian leaders and people, as well as the families of the victims of this criminal attack,” expressing “full solidarity with Russia.”

Although Hamas is Islamist, it is not internationalist and only targets the State of Israel in its attacks.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also expressed condolences and solidarity with Russia, and reiterated his opposition to “terror, regardless of its source.”

“The President expressed confidence in the ability of Russian leaders to overcome this difficult test and bring security and stability to the country,” the president of the Palestinian National Authority, which governs small areas of the occupied West Bank and was expelled from Gaza by Hamas, said in a statement.

Russia maintains warm relations with Israel, which were strengthened when the Jewish country joined the West in the war in Ukraine and defended the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Another point of contention is Russia’s relationship with Palestinian groups, including Hamas, whose leadership is often applauded in the Kremlin.

IS claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, which it said took place in the context of a “brutal war” between the group and “countries that fight against Islam.”

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of eleven people allegedly involved in the attack, including the four terrorists who directly carried out the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this Saturday condemned what he called a “barbaric and bloody” terrorist attack and called for revenge.

While he did not speculate on the masterminds of the attack, he suggested that the four detainees were trying to cross the border into Ukraine, which the Russian leader said was trying to create a “window” to help them escape.

Ukrainian authorities have denied any involvement in the attack, and a U.S. intelligence source told The Associated Press that U.S. agencies have confirmed the group was responsible.

Several world leaders condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and families.