The offer by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to help Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “prevent the further escalation of violence and to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip,” as the [Kremlin readout](http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/72514 ) put it, appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
Putin had first informed Netanyahu “of the key points of [his] telephone calls with the leaders of Palestine, Egypt, Iran and Syria,” of the massive loss of life of civilians in Gaza and of the risk of an expanded conflict. RT also reported that Putin had extended sincere condolences to the Israeli families who lost loved ones, and that he strongly condemned “any actions that victimize the civilian population, including women and children.”
