The Repatriation Department of the Israeli diplomatic mission in Moscow has temporarily suspended its services for Russian citizens until October 27. This development comes amid an ongoing conflict in Israel that has lasted for eighteen days, beginning with massive rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Embassy in Russia confirmed the suspension, stating that the consular section will continue to operate as usual. Rabbi Adolf Shaevich, in a conversation with Gazeta.ru, revealed that the consulate has temporarily stopped accepting applications for permanent residence in Israel.
According to Shaevich, the decision to halt the repatriation process is due to the fact that many employees of Israeli bureaucratic structures have been deployed to the war front. During a recent Zoom meeting, the Israeli ambassador did not provide a specific timeline for resuming the services, leaving those who had previously received permission in a state of uncertainty.
The war in Israel has resulted in significant casualties. Approximately 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, while the Gaza Ministry of Health reports that 4,651 people have been killed and 14,245 have been injured in the Gaza Strip, according to Al-Jazeera.
The suspension of repatriation services for Russian citizens is another layer of complexity added to the ongoing conflict. It raises questions about the capacity of Israeli diplomatic missions abroad to handle non-conflict-related matters during times of war.
