Russian warships will be on standby in the eastern Mediterranean in case of need to assist Russians leaving Gaza, a source in the Navy's high command said, according to RIA Novosti.

“A detachment of ships from the Black Sea Fleet has arrived in the designated area in the Mediterranean Sea and will wait for an order to evacuate Russian nationals,” the source said.

The Russian Navy monitors the ongoing situation in the area and studies possible options for the evacuation of Russians in case of the conflict escalation, the source said.

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas Islamist group came into effect on earlier this week. However, on Friday, Nov 23, Israeli soldiers killed one person and injured around 15 more in Gaza.