In response to the escalating conflict in the Gaza Strip, Russia has commenced the evacuation of its citizens who have been trapped in the besieged area, announced the Emergency Situations Ministry on Sunday. The Russian authorities, in collaboration with diplomats, have organized the operation to ensure the safe departure of civilians from the conflict-ridden region.

According to the statement released by the Emergency Situations Ministry on the messaging app Telegram, the ministry's operational group has been working diligently over the past week to coordinate evacuation procedures and routes for the Russian citizens affected by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

State media reported earlier this month that nearly 600 Russian citizens were awaiting evacuation from the Gaza Strip, as confirmed by Russian diplomats. So far, over 80 Russian citizens have been granted approval by Israeli authorities to leave Gaza, as reported by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.

The evacuation process is being undertaken with utmost care and support for those affected. Specialists from the Emergency Situations Ministry are providing medical and psychological assistance to the evacuees, in addition to offering food and water during their journey. The evacuees, upon crossing the border checkpoint into Egypt through Rafah, will be sent to Cairo, where the Emergency Situations Ministry has set up a temporary headquarters to oversee the evacuation efforts.

As of now, more than 60 Russian nationals have successfully crossed the Rafah border checkpoint and entered Egypt, according to a later statement released on Sunday.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has severely devastated the Gaza Strip. The Israeli bombardment campaign, initiated as a response to Hamas' surprise assault on southern Israel on October 7th, has resulted in a significant loss of life. At least 1,200 people have been reported dead, and the casualties continue to rise.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza claims that over 11,000 Palestinians, including more than 4,400 children, have been killed since the start of the war.

As the conflict intensifies, Russia remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens in the war-torn region. With the ongoing evacuation efforts, Moscow remains cautiously optimistic about successfully evacuating its nationals from the densely populated enclave.