Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to the Russian President Vladimir Putin to assist Israel in freeing the Israeli soldiers held captive by the Palestinian Hamas organization to which Putin agreed.
Following the meeting between Putin and Netanyahu on Thursday evening the latter told reporters that he raised the issue of the bodies of the captive soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin and the two other captives being held by Hamas.
Netanyahu reportedly pleaded for Putin’s assistance which the latter pledged to give.
The two parties also held a lengthy discussion on Iran’s intervention in Syria and its intent to establish a seaport in the country. Netanyahu expressed Israel’s rebuff of Iran’s involvement in the Syrian conflict.
In early April 2016 the armed wing of Hamas—al-Qassam Brigades—announced that four Israeli soldiers are being held captive by the group vowing that none of them shall be released for free.
