The Israeli Ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Ben Zvi, indicated that finalizing the lists for evacuating Russian citizens from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt could take about two weeks. The diplomat noted that the Egyptian side has established a daily evacuation cap, limited to approximately 500 to 600 people. If the flow through the crossing remains at the upper end of this range, the timetable would indeed stretch to around two weeks for completing the process of compiling and validating the lists and moving individuals through the checkpoint.
A diplomatic source suggested that the evacuation of Russian citizens from Gaza should commence within the next couple of days, and later assessments indicated that the arrangements were in place to begin withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave without delay. These statements reflect ongoing coordination among the involved parties to ensure a controlled and orderly evacuation operation, balancing safety, logistics, and security considerations along the border corridor.
Earlier briefings outlined the designated assembly point for Russian citizens participating in the evacuation, clarifying where groups would gather prior to departure. This information aimed to streamline the process, minimize confusion, and ensure that evacuees could be directed efficiently to transportation and onward destinations as conditions allowed. The broader discussions on forgoing or accelerating evacuation timelines have been part of advancing negotiations and practical planning surrounding the release and safe movement of residents.
Throughout the period of discussion, officials emphasized the importance of synchronized steps across the involved ministries and border administrations. The objective remained to facilitate a smooth and secure transfer, with attention to orderly processing, verification of identities, and the readiness of logistics to support departures from Gaza through Rafah. These efforts underscore the complex nature of cross-border evacuations in conflict zones and the necessity of stable, reliable coordination among international partners to protect civilian lives.