Syrian and Russian presidents speak by phone about situation in Gaza

DAMASCUS, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Monday to discuss the urgent situation in the Gaza Strip, state news agency SANA Syrian reported.

Both leaders stressed the urgency of immediately distributing humanitarian aid to the besieged and densely populated enclave and discussed ways to stop Israeli bombings and the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, SANA added.

At least 2,750 Palestinians were killed by Israeli army attacks in Gaza, while in Israel the death toll reached at least 1,284 on Sunday, according to official figures from both sides.