Putin urges end to “armed confrontation” in Netanyahu call

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for an end to spiraling violence in Gaza during telephone talks with Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The Russian side stressed the necessity to as soon as possible stop armed confrontation, which leads to multiple victims among civilians," the Kremlin said after the call between the two leaders.

Putin and Netanyahu also discussed bilateral ties and "some other issues that are of mutual interest," the Kremlin said, without elaborating. The call took place at the initiative of the Israeli side, Putin's office added.

On Tuesday, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, with the strikes killing more than 80 Gazans to date. There have been no Israeli deaths so far.

Rockets fired from Gaza since the flare-up began Tuesday have reached major cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

There are growing international calls for a ceasefire to stop the worst confrontation in and around Gaza since 2012.