Putin says concerned over ‘catastrophic increase’ in Israel-Gaza casualties

Russian President Vladimir Putin voices concern at the “catastrophic increase” in the number of civilian victims in Israel and the Gaza Strip, after four days of fighting.

During a telephone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “emphasis was placed on the sharply worsening situation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone,” the Kremlin says in a statement.

“Deep concern was expressed about the continuing escalation of violence and the catastrophic increase in the number of civilian casualties,” it adds.

Putin and Erdogan had reiterated the need for “an immediate ceasefire” and for “the resumption of the negotiation process,” according to the Kremlin.

Neither has offered clear condemnation of Hamas for its mass killing of hundreds of Israeli civilians on Saturday.