MOSCOW, December 6. /TASS/. Israel has concerns over the hostages still being held by the Palestinian radical movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi told TASS.

"We do have concerns all the time. It turned out all of a sudden that some hostages have died there for reasons absolutely unrelated to the operation. Because they were wounded but never received timely medical assistance or because they did not have enough food and so on," the Israeli envoy said when asked if Israel has concerns over hostages amid the resumption of fighting in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to Ben Zvi, four hostages have already died in Gaza. "So, of course, when they are in Hamas’ hands, they are in danger," he concluded.

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 siege of Gaza and started carrying out strikes on the Palestinian enclave, as well as on certain areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.