1st group of Russian citizens evacuated from Gaza Strip leaves for Moscow

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Moscow on Monday said the first group of Russian citizens evacuated from the Gaza Strip departed from Egypt for Russia.

A group of 70 people left the Palestinian enclave via the Egyptian Rafah border point earlier in the day and was then transported to the capital Cairo, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The plane of the Emergency Ministry has already departed for Moscow (from Cairo)," the ministry said.

The diplomatic service thanked Egyptian, Israeli, Palestinian, and Qatari authorities for "effective assistance" in organizing the evacuation and promised that it will be continued until all willing Russian citizens leave the Gaza Strip.

As the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip entered its 38th day, at least 11,180 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,700 children and women, according to the latest figures by Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also either been damaged or fully destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,200, according to official figures.