MOSCOW, July 23./ITAR-TASS/. Further fighting in Gaza will lead to a dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation and to more casualties and suffering among the civilian population, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.

Putin “stressed that there is no alternative to ceasefire and a political settlement” and “reiterated his readiness to facilitate mediatory efforts and the implementation of peace initiatives, including within the UN framework,” the presidential press service said.

Putin and Netanyahu also discussed “a number of pressing issues of the Russian-Israeli agenda”.