MOSCOW, November 15. /TASS/. Moscow will insist on respecting the interests of Russian nationals in potential hostage-release agreements with Hamas, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

The diplomat pointed out that numerous reports are cropping up about the parameters for potential agreements, adding that the main thing was for consultations to move in the right direction. "Like most countries, we call for the immediate release of all people held in Gaza. However, the situation has its own peculiarities," Viktorov added.

According to the ambassador, Russia considers it important to make sure that "no Russian nationals are left there" after an agreement is reached, because "according to some information, there may be Russian citizens among the hostages." "There is a child who is not a Russian national but she is the daughter of Russian nationals, and Israel’s Foreign Ministry and other state agencies are well aware of the situation," the envoy added.

Earlier, Israel’s state-run broadcaster Kan reported, citing sources, that Israel and Hamas were looking at a "children for children" hostage exchange scenario.

Tensions in the Middle East flared up again on October 7 after militants from the radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, taking over 200 people, including women, children and the elderly, hostage. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza and launched ground operations in the enclave, also carrying out air strikes on targets in the Strip, as well as on certain areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.