MOSCOW, November 23. /TASS/. Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov and Mauritanian Ambassador to Moscow Deman Mohamed discussed the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, North Africa and the Sahara-Sahel region.

"There was an exchange of views on topical international and regional issues with a focus on the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, North Africa and the Sahara-Sahel region," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.

The ministry also emphasized that the parties had discussed a set of issues of further developing "traditionally friendly Russian-Mauritanian relations."

The meeting was held at the request of the Mauritanian ambassador.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when Hamas militants staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. 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 has announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and has been delivering air strikes on Gaza as well as some parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also underway in the West Bank.