MOSCOW: Russian President Putin in Tuesday expressed concern at the “catastrophic increase” in the number of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, following four days of fighting.
President Putin Concerned Over ‘Catastrophic Increase’ in Casualties in Gaza
In a statement, the Kremlin said during a telephone conversation with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, “emphasis was placed on the abruptly worsening situation in the Palestinian- Israeli conflict zone”. It added “Deep concern was also expressed regarding the continuing escalation of violence and the terrible rise in the number of civilian casualties,”.
The two leaders had reiterated the need for “an urgent ceasefire” and for “the restoration of the dialogue process”, the Kremlin said.
The Turkish presidency said President Tayyip Erdogan and President Putin had discussed “the shocking developments of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the steps to be taken to prevent an escalation”.
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President Erdogan said that it was “regrettable to target civilian infrastructure and that Ankara doesn’t welcome such actions”.
The Israel has been shelling the Gaza strip after Hamas’s surprise operation in Israel.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Putin called the creation of a Palestinian state “necessary” and recommended that the new war between Hamas and Israel showed the “failure” of US policy in the Middle East.
