MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and they discussed the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Kremlin said in a statement.
"Detailed discussion was given to the sharply escalated situation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," the statement said.
It said that during the talks the presidents "expressed serious concern about the rising number of civilian casualties, underscored the fundamental importance of a prompt cessation of fire, evacuation of foreign citizens from the Gaza Strip, and making sure that there’s unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to the enclave."
Also, given Brazil's presidency of the UN Security Council this month, Putin and Lula da Silva discussed various aspects of working together for the UN to take "urgent and effective measures to de-escalate the crisis and truly advance the peace process, based on the universally recognized foundation of international law, that provides for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state coexisting in peace and security with Israel."
The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. Hamas regards the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Israel has declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and has started delivering strikes on that area and parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.