Russian Ambassador's connection with Gofman — alongside support for Hamas: "We never encouraged terror"
Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov stated in an interview with RTVI that Moscow does not view Hamas as a "product of Russian activity," and that ties with the organization are used for humanitarian purposes and hostage releases. He also noted that security cooperation between the two countries remains intact and confirmed his personal acquaintance with the new Mossad chief, Roman Gofman.
Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov has rejected public criticism regarding the Kremlin's ties with Hamas, asserting that these channels are intended to promote humanitarian solutions, which have also facilitated assistance in the release of hostages. In an interview with RTVI, the ambassador addressed ongoing cooperation between the security services of both nations and the broader relationship in the shadow of regional challenges.
Viktorov emphasized that Moscow does not view Hamas as an organization created or supported by Russia. "Russia has never supported terrorist activity," he claimed. "Hamas is not a product of Russian activity." According to him, the organization is a result of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which persists due to the lack of a political solution to the Palestinian issue.
He argued that severing ties with the organization would have prevented Russia from acting on humanitarian issues, particularly regarding the hostages. A significant portion of the contacts maintained with Hamas representatives since October 2023 dealt with securing the release of Israeli hostages, including those with Russian citizenship. Viktorov added that Russia supports the establishment of a Palestinian state that would exist in peace alongside Israel and favors Palestinian political unity based on the PLO framework.
Cooperation between security services
The Russian ambassador also referred to the appointment of Roman Gofman as head of the Mossad. He confirmed that he knows Gofman personally from his previous roles and has congratulated him on his new position. He emphasized that ties between Russian and Israeli security services have not been severed.
"We have something to talk about, we have experience to exchange, and we have something to warn each other about," he said, while refraining from providing details on specific collaborations.
Regarding the upcoming elections in Israel, Viktorov said he does not expect a dramatic shift in Israel-Russia relations. He noted that Moscow appreciates the fact that Israel has not joined Western sanctions against Russia and has not supplied lethal weapons to Ukraine.
Finally, the ambassador addressed the renewal of direct flights, expressing hope that El Al would return to operating routes to Russia and that Aeroflot would resume flights to Israel, noting that current volumes provided by Red Wings are insufficient. He also confirmed that Russia remains a central supplier of grain to Israel and does not expect any cessation of cooperation in that sector.
