MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The dialogue between Russia and Israel regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip is carried out in the spirit of trust, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"Russia's efforts are aimed at achieving an immediate ceasefire (in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone - TASS), this will help avoid new casualties and provide the necessary assistance to the population of the Gaza Strip, which has been living in a humanitarian nightmare for more than two months. <...> We are indeed discussing these issues with the Israeli side in an open and confidential manner. You see contacts at the highest level, our embassies are working, we have a whole range of tasks that are on the agenda of Russia and Israel in practical terms," the diplomat said.

Zakharova noted that Russia is grateful to Israel for its assistance in getting Russians and their family members out of Gaza. "The Israeli side is grateful to Russia for the release of hostages, work in this direction," she continued. "We continue to coordinate with all interested parties, including the Israelis, on issues of providing urgent humanitarian assistance to the residents of the Palestinian enclave."

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian movement Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from Gaza, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking over 200 hostages, including women, children and the elderly. 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. In response, Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, 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.