According to his adviser, Russian President Vladimir Putin will phone the leaders of Israel and the Arab world on Monday amid concerns in Moscow that Israel's Gaza offensive could spark a broader regional confrontation.
The crisis, which has soured relations with longtime ally Israel and complicated ties with Iran, which supports the militant group Hamas, has been repeatedly urged upon in talks by Russia to end.
According to a Kremlin adviser quoted by the Interfax news agency, "the president has already spoken to the presidents of Syria and Iran."
"During the day there will be more phone calls with the presidents of Egypt -- Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Palestine -- Mahmud Abbas, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," Ushakov stated.
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Since Israel was preparing to launch a ground offensive targeted at executing Hamas leaders, concerns for Palestinians besieged in the relentlessly bombed Gaza Strip have increased.
A day after waves of its fighters breached Gaza's heavily fortified border and killed over 1,400 people—most civilians—Israel declared war on the Palestinian Islamist organization.
Iran, a supporter of Hamas, has threatened that an invasion of Gaza would be met with retaliation, raising concerns about a broader confrontation involving other nations.
Moscow, fighting its offensive in Ukraine for almost 20 months, has repeatedly demanded a cease-fire and offered to act as a mediator.
