MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service is making efforts to obtain information about Russian nationals who are held hostage by Hamas, the service’s chief, Sergey Naryshkin, told reporters on Tuesday.

"Yes, we are working on this," he said answering a corresponding question.

Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory, killing many Israelis living in the settlements near the border and abducting more than 200 people, including children, women and the elderly. 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.