There are about 30 Bulgarian citizens in the Gaza Strip. Bulgaria is doing everything possible to evacuate them and hopes that this can be done when the Rafah crossing is opened. Contact with them is currently difficult given the grave situation, the diplomat added. 

Asked how negotiations will be conducted if it is established that there is a Bulgarian hostage, Gergova explained: "Hamas" is a terrorist organization with which we do not negotiate, but there is an operational headquarters that deals with the abducted and the missing persons. There is a special coordinator of this headquarters, who is a brigadier general, an operational headquarters where other countries are, if it is found that there are kidnapped nationals of those countries."