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Russia trying to help evacuate wounded from Gaza hospitals to other countries — ambassador

Russia’s health ministry is trying to evacuate many wounded people from hospitals to Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, to the West Bank - anywhere, Abdel Hafiz Nofal said

MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. The Russian side is trying to help organize the evacuation of the wounded from hospitals in the Gaza Strip to other countries, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal told TASS.

"Russia’s health ministry is trying to evacuate many [wounded people] from hospitals to Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, to the West Bank - anywhere, in order to help. But it is difficult because of the Israeli side," he said.

He said that epidemics are not ruled out amid the conflict escalation. "There are a lot of deaths there. Houses are ruined. Women and children are killed. No one cares if any one is sick - people see deaths every day. Naturally, amid all this, a lot of infections may break out there. This must be discussed in internationally. It is necessary to engage every possibility to normalize life in the enclave," he stressed, adding that the Palestinian health ministry is trying to minimize the risks of epidemics.

He drew attention to the fact that some 2.5 million people live in the Gaza Strip while only 50-60 trucks deliver food to the enclave every day. "It is about 400 tons. Too little. At least 250-300 trucks are needed. That is why we are expecting help from Arab countries. At the conference in Riyadh, they agreed to help Egypt to ensure deliveries of more food, medicine and even fuel to Gaza. People are in dire straits there. What is supplied now is not enough," he stressed. "In other words, we want around 300 trucks with aid daily."

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when militants from the radical Palestinian group Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its operation 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 declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and carried out air strikes on the Palestinian enclave, as well as some areas of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also underway in the West Bank.