The Russian Foreign Ministry reported more than 1,000 requests for evacuation from the Middle East

More than 1,000 citizens of the Russian Federation and CIS countries have submitted applications for evacuation from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, reported on briefing Deputy Director of the DIP of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexey Zaitsev on current issues of foreign policy.

“We give priority attention to ensuring the safety of Russians in Israel and the Palestinian territories, <...> We are actively working with partners to safely evacuate fellow citizens who have asked for help from the combat zone. To date, about 1,000 people have submitted relevant applications, including citizens of CIS countries and members of their families,” he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, Zaitsev emphasized, is discussing with key regional players the opening of humanitarian corridors for evacuation and supplies of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Russia is also taking steps to resolve the conflict in the region; in particular, on October 13, Moscow submitted to the UN Security Council a draft resolution to intensify efforts to achieve a humanitarian truce, but it was rejected by the United States.

“The current round of Palestinian-Israeli confrontation is a direct consequence of ignoring the relevant resolutions of the UN and its Security Council, as well as the actual blocking by the West of the work of the Middle East quartet of international mediators consisting of Russia, the USA, the EU and the UN,” he added.

On October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel. Amid the militant attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched Operation Iron Swords, and the country went into a state of war. As a result of the fighting on Israeli territory, 19 Russians were killed, and seven more are listed as missing. According to the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv, at least two Russians are held Hostage by Hamas.

As Russia’s permanent representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya reported on October 18, about 1,000 Russian citizens and members of their families became virtual hostages of the military blockade of Gaza. On the morning of October 19, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced the dispatch of 27 tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.