MOSCOW, November 29. /TASS/. Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Moscow Mohammed Ahmed Sultan Essa Al Jaber the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone and the schedule of upcoming bilateral contacts.

"They also exchanged views on key topics on the Middle East agenda focusing on the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone," the ministry said in a statement on the results of the meeting published on its website.

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that the sides "discussed topical issues of further development of multifaceted Russian-Emirati cooperation, including the schedule of relevant bilateral contacts."

The meeting was held at the request of the Ambassador of the UAE.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 200 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ aggressive actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria, as well as a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank. The Hamas movement announced on November 22 that an agreement on a four-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip had been reached through the mediation of Qatar and Egypt. The agreement stipulates the release of 50 women and children under the age of 19 who are held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 150 women and children under the age of 19 from Israeli prisons. The Gaza ceasefire took effect at 5:00 a.m. GMT (7:00 a.m. local time) on November 24, when the first group of hostages was released. On November 27, the parties agreed to extend the truce for two more days under the same conditions. This means that three Palestinian prisoners will be released every day in exchange for each released Israeli hostage.