Russia has called for the release of a dual Russian-Israeli citizen and an Israeli man with Russian relatives who are being held hostage by Hamas. A deputy Russian foreign minister met with a senior Hamas official in Moscow and urged the group to keep their promises to release the hostages. The Russian ministry emphasized the importance of carrying out the promises made by Hamas's leadership. Talks on releasing the hostages will be held in stages, with the release of the Russian citizen being the first stage. The two parties also discussed the progress of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the need for increased humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population.