MOSCOW, July 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the situation in the Gaza Strip but has no plans to evacuate Russian nationals from the area, a spokesman said Tuesday.
A new wave of violence has erupted in the region with Israel sending troops into Gaza to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, a 19-year-old corporal taken hostage by Palestinian gunmen on June 25. They insisted that they would not release the captive unless Israel freed all Palestinian women and children from its jails.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry is closely watching the situation in the Gaza Strip. We are in contact both with Israeli and Palestinian officials," Andrei Krivtsov said, adding measures were being taken to ensure the security of all Russians in the area.
"However, there is no question about evacuating our citizens," he said.
