Since the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, hundreds of Russians have left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. The evacuation numbers are provided by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situencies through its information policy department, with updates reported by major news agencies. The latest figures indicate that a significant flow of people moved from Gaza into Egypt over the border during the early weeks of the crisis, and several flights have brought evacuees back to Russia from Cairo.
One of the most recent milestones noted by officials involved the seventh evacuation flight from Cairo to Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport. The aircraft carried a total of 103 passengers, including 47 children, as part of Russia’s organized repatriation efforts. Through this and prior missions, the total number of Russians who have reached Russia since the evacuation operation began has continued to rise, while a larger total of evacuees has passed through Rafah on the Egypt-Gaza border en route to safer destinations or onward travel connections.
Official tallies show that, to date, about 656 individuals have arrived in Russia as part of the organized evacuation program, with 750 Russian citizens passing through Rafah in total. In the most recent 24-hour window reported by the Ministry of Emergencies, a group of 101 Russian nationals crossed the border into Egypt, signaling continued movement amid the evolving security situation in the region.
The Middle East crisis intensified after militant groups crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, marking the launch of a campaign described by Hamas as Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The Israeli leadership responded with military actions aimed at neutralizing the threat, freeing hostages, and degrading Hamas capabilities. Israel cited the goal of preventing further attacks and securing the safety of civilians, including foreigners who were taken hostage. In parallel, authorities in Jerusalem announced measures intended to disrupt the movement of essential supplies into Gaza, citing security concerns and the need to curb further escalation.
From the outset, the Israeli response included large-scale air operations targeting multiple locations in the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian relief efforts, coordinated through various channels, began to reach Gaza after initial delays and reported shortfalls in aid deliveries. Despite these efforts, aid convoys and shipments were described by officials as insufficient to meet urgent needs on the ground, prompting ongoing discussions about assistive access and relief quantities for affected populations.
Over time, the conflict prompted a broader military operation described by Israeli authorities as a ground phase expansion, with ongoing battles and significant disruption to daily life in Gaza. While the timing of certain ground actions remained fluid, reports indicated that large segments of the population had fled their homes for shelter or southern regions, seeking safer locations within Gaza or nearby areas. In later stages, Israeli forces conducted operations intended to tighten control over strategic areas and pause critical supply lines, complicating humanitarian access and the lives of residents who remained in central Gaza.
For Russians who had fled the Gaza Strip in the early weeks of the crisis, daily life in exile presented both challenges and moments of resilience. They described the stark reality of living under wartime conditions, with disruptions to basic services, limited movement, and the need to adapt quickly to new environments while awaiting repatriation or secure relocation options. The experiences shared by those evacuees highlight the personal impact of geopolitical conflict on families, communities, and individuals far from the center of the hostilities.