Putin urges Netanyahu to declare a ceasefir

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, held at the initiative of the latter, has called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, says the Kremlin press service.

"The Russian President notes that the continued fighting in the Gaza Strip has led to a dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation - the death and suffering of the civilian population. In this regard there is no alternative to a ceasefire and a settlement of the conflict by political means. The readiness to promote mediation and peace initiatives, including those within the United Nations, has been reaffirmed," RIA Novosti quotes a Kremlin source.