Turkish president urges international community to give Israel a strong, deterrent lesson

Erdogan said he believed Turkey and Russia will display close cooperation in those topics in the UN.

ANKARA/MOSCOW (Web Desk) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called for de-escalation in the deadly violence that erupted between Israel and Palestinians earlier this week.

Calling on the international community to give Israel a "strong and deterrent" lesson, Erdogan said Turkey has voiced its reaction against the Israeli attacks on Jerusalem, Gaza, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Palestinians in the strongest way.

He urged the UN Security Council to get involved in the issue and give a determined and clear message to Israel to halt its attacks on Palestinians before the crisis grows further.

An idea of an international force to protect Palestinian civilians from Israeli aggression should be worked on, according to the Turkish president.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation.

"Serious concern was expressed about the continuing clashes and the growing number of people killed and wounded," the Kremlin said in a statement adding that both sides "called on the parties to de-escalate tensions and peacefully resolve the emerging issues".

Erdogan said he believed Turkey and Russia will display close cooperation in those topics in the UN.

Russia s Putin, for his part, congratulated the Turkish nation on the Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday following the holy month of Ramadan.

At least 43 Palestinians have been martyred and more than 296 others injured in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip amid tension across the Palestinian territories after Israeli police stormed the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied East Jerusalem and assaulted worshippers.

Five Israelis have also been killed and 45 others injured in Palestinian rocket fire.

Tensions have been running high since last week after an Israeli court ordered the evictions of Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem.