In an appeal for mediation, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Israel on Friday that it ran the possibility of laying an "unacceptable" siege on Gaza akin to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad during World War II.

Since the Israeli army ordered 1.1 million Palestinians -- or roughly half the territory's total population -- to leave in preparation for a potential ground assault, fears for Gaza's Palestinian residents have escalated.

"Various scenarios are emerging, including the possibility of military and non-military measures being taken against the Gaza Strip comparable to the siege of Leningrad during World War II," Putin told journalists on a visit to Kyrgyzstan.


"We understand what that entails. In my opinion, this is unacceptable. More than two million people live there," he added.

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Israel issued the evacuation order in response to the bloodiest attack on Israel in its 75-year history, in which militants from Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, broke through the region's borders and killed more than 1,300 people, most of whom were civilians.

The creation of a Palestinian state, according to Moscow, which maintains good links with both the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships, is the "most reliable" way to bring about peace in Israel.

On Friday, Putin called for talks again and suggested Moscow as a prospective mediator.


When asked if Moscow could assist in finding a solution to the problem, Putin responded, "Russia can, given the positive relations we have had with Israel over the last 15 years."