MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Russian diplomats continue to make lists for evacuation from the Gaza Strip, Spokeswoman for the Russian representative office to the Palestinian National Authority, Aliya Zaripova, told TASS.

Commenting on the prospects for the evacuation of Russian nationals from the Gaza Strip, Zaripova said that work on the lists is going on.

"The lists are being compiled. We are working on the issue," she said. "[The names on the lists] are within the same limits. There are about 700 [people], and of them, more than 400 are Russians."

The Russian representative office said that there was no information on a possible timeframe yet.

Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.