MOSCOW, June 1. /TASS/. Israel has confirmed its resolve to continue negotiations with Hamas toward releasing hostages, Deputy Israeli Ambassador to Russia Yulia Rachinsky-Spivakov told TASS.

"The negotiations are ongoing, and the Israeli government is making every effort to release hostages as soon as possible," she said, when asked about whether the recent strike by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on a refugee camp in Rafah had affected the talks.

Overnight into Monday, the Jewish state’s air force struck a tent camp for Palestinian refugees, killing at least 45 people, including 20 women, seniors and children, the Gazan Health Ministry, controlled by the Palestinian radical movement Hamas, said.