The Palestinian ambassador to Russia, Abdel Hafez Nofal, clarified that Hamas did not promise a hostage release. The clarification appeared in a report from TASS and was presented to readers as part of a broader update on the region.
There were no signals of an imminent hostage release. Instead, the statement indicated that Hamas might consider releasing captives if fighting stops, with no firm commitment at the current moment. The diplomat stressed that negotiations had not produced a binding pledge yet, and the situation remained fluid and uncertain.
In a related development, Nofal voiced optimism that both Russia and China could contribute constructively to easing the Middle East crisis. He underscored the potential for regional dialogue and diplomacy to influence the course of events, noting the value of international engagement.
Separately, Nofal indicated that the Palestinian government would assist in evacuating Russian nationals from the Gaza Strip to Egypt. He described ongoing discussions with officials from the Russian Federation and highlighted active participation from members of Russia’s foreign ministry in these talks, signaling a concerted, multilateral approach to crisis management.
On October 13, the United Nations Secretary-General’s office reported that Israel had requested the evacuation of approximately 1.1 million Palestinians from northern Gaza ahead of a potential ground operation. The UN stated that officials indicated this withdrawal should be completed within 24 hours, a timeline that underscored the urgency and the high stakes involved for civilian populations in the area.
Vasily Nebenzya, the former Russian permanent representative to the United Nations, criticized what he described as a lack of decisive action by the international community in addressing the Middle East crisis. He argued that the United Nations has not provided the necessary leadership to move the situation forward, urging stronger, more coordinated international engagement to prevent further deterioration.