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Middle East and North Africa

Russian diplomats help compatriots leave Gaza Strip

Russian children and wives of Palestinians, and ex-students of Soviet and Russian higher education establishments, could not leave the Gaza Strip over a month for security reasons

MOSCOW, October 14 (Itar-Tass) - Russian diplomats’ efforts helped compatriots leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

“On October 12, a group of Russian citizens (23 people) could leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt through the Rafah checkpoint. Russian citizens wished to leave the Palestinian territories, but due to the breakdown in the checkpoint’s work they turned out to be ‘closed’ in the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said.

“The Russian Embassy in Ramallah and the Russian Embassy in Cairo did their best to allow Russian citizens to leave the Gaza Strip. The staff has maintained intensive talks with all Palestinian parties and the Egyptian authorities in order to settle the situation,” the ministry said.

According to earlier reports, Russian children and wives of Palestinians, as well as former students of Soviet and Russian higher education establishments, could not leave the Gaza Strip over a month for security reasons. Many of them arrived in the Gaza Strip for holiday to meet relatives. However, the toughening of border regime prevented Russian citizens from returning home in time. They could finally leave the Palestinian enclave on October 13.

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