Russia anticipates completing the mass evacuation of its citizens from the Gaza Strip in the coming days, according to the statement made by the Russian Ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, during an interview on the "Russia-24" TV channel.
"We are in the final stages of the evacuation process. Several dozen Russian citizens and their family members are being considered by all relevant parties. I anticipate that within the next few days, the large-scale evacuation from the Gaza Strip will be concluded," the diplomat stated. The ambassador mentioned that over 1,000 Russian citizens and their Palestinian family members have already departed the Gaza Strip and safely arrived in the Russian Federation.
Viktorov emphasized that the Russian Federation is closely cooperating with all parties involved in the evacuation process, including Israel, Egypt, and Palestinian representatives. Additionally, Russia is collaborating with relevant parties on efforts to secure the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip, the ambassador added.
"I would like to inform you that over a thousand Russian citizens, along with Palestinians and their family members, have successfully left the Gaza Strip and have been transported to the Russian Federation. Regrettably, there are still several dozen Russian citizens and Palestinians, including immediate family members, who have not been able to exit the Gaza Strip for reasons unknown to us. We fear the worst scenarios, especially with the recent resumption of hostilities, making the task of locating and evacuating them even more challenging. Nonetheless, we are actively persisting in our efforts," Viktorov stated.
"Since the outset of this conflict, we have consistently advocated for the prompt release of all individuals held as hostages in Gaza. We are now prepared to assist in the release of not only Russian citizens but also other categories of Israeli citizens. This support is not only practical but also political, aligning with our stance in favor of the release of all hostages," Viktorov added.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, since the beginning of the humanitarian operation, more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the conflict zone, including over 940 individuals, with more than 420 of them being children.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Sergey Fadeichev/TASS
Based on materials from TASS