Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the international community should ``give Israel a strong and deterrent lesson'' against its conduct toward the Palestinians.

That's according to the Turkish Presidential Communications Directorate, which said the two leaders talked by phone Wednesday about the Israeli crackdown on Palestinians in Jerusalem.

The statement said Erdogan stressed the need for ``the international community to give Israel a strong and deterrent lesson'' and pressed for the United Nations Security Council to rapidly intervene with ``determined and clear messages'' to Israel. The statement said Erdogan suggested to Putin that an international protection force to shield the Palestinians should be considered.

Meanwhile, thousands of people in Istanbul defied a nationwide coronavirus curfew late Tuesday to demonstrate against Israel's attacks. A large convoy of cars drove toward the Israeli Consulate, waving Turkish and Palestinian flags. An image of the Palestinian and Turkish flags was projected onto the Israeli building. 

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.