MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. Only a small number of Russian citizens remain in the Gaza Strip and Russia’s foreign missions are doing their best to assist them on an individual basis, Russian Foreign Ministry Crisis Management Center Director Yury Gorlach said at a briefing.

"According to information from our foreign missions, some of our citizens still remain in the Gaza Strip. It is already down to a small number [of people]. Either they have not received authorizations [to exit the enclave] from the relevant authorities, or they have voluntarily refused to leave because their relatives were not issued exit permits," he said.

"Our foreign missions are closely monitoring the situation; we are trying to assist them on an individual basis whenever possible," the diplomat added.

Gorlach emphasized that the Russian Foreign Ministry's recommendations for those who remain in the Gaza Strip still pertain: exercise maximum caution, observe increased personal security measures, avoid areas of hostilities, and follow the recommendations of the authorities and messages from diplomatic missions.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants of the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise incursion into Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 200 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Israel has declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and started a military operation there. Israeli forces are also striking parts of Lebanon and Syria in retaliation for attacks originating from these countries. On December 1, the Israeli army accused Hamas of violating a ceasefire that had taken effect on November 24 and resumed combat operations in Gaza. Palestinian officials blamed the US for the renewed Israeli aggression.