Russia Facilitates Evacuation of Nationals Amid Israels Ground Offensive in Gaza

Russian diplomats facilitated the evacuation of several dozen Russian and Palestinian individuals from Gaza City as Israel initiated a significant ground operation this week, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

Approximately 50 individuals were escorted out of the enclave on Wednesday with help from Russia’s mission to the Palestinian Authority and its embassy in Jordan, reported Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova to the state news agency TASS.

Zakharova noted that the group comprised 26 Russian nationals and 24 Palestinians, including 25 minors and 11 women.

They crossed into Egypt via the Kerem Shalom checkpoint before being transferred to Jordan through the Allenby Bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge.

One evacuee shared with RIA Novosti that Russian diplomats had arranged flights to Moscow, with plans for his family to continue on to St. Petersburg.

Israel commenced its offensive in Gaza City on Tuesday, despite increasing international criticism of its campaign in Palestinian territories. UN experts this week accused Israel of perpetrating “genocide” in the Gaza Strip, an accusation that Israel has rejected as «distorted and false.»

In August, the UN estimated that around 1 million people resided in Gaza City and surrounding areas; however, Israel claims that approximately 350,000 individuals have since fled.

On Thursday afternoon, health officials in Gaza reported that at least 79 Palestinians had lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes or gunfire in the past 24 hours.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this information.