Moscow says 'making active efforts' to free Russian citizens held hostage by Hamas

MOSCOW

Moscow is "making active efforts" to free Russian citizens held hostage by Hamas, a government spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Speaking in an interview with Russian Sputnik Radio, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that according to the ministry's data, the victims and hostages are permanent residents of Israel, with no tourists or visitors among them.

She said that these people hold Russian as their second citizenship, but Moscow "does not level citizenships" since they are simply Russian citizens.

"We are in contact with all parties of this issue, ..., indeed, it is possible and necessary to do business," she said.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army said some 240 Israelis are being held by the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"The number is not final as the military investigates new information," military spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters.

The new figure does not include four hostages released earlier by Hamas.

Meanwhile, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, earlier said that it is holding 200-250 people captive, including Israeli soldiers and civilians.

Last weekend, the Israeli army widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict since then, including 8,525 Palestinians, including 3,542 children, and 1,538 Israelis.