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Kerry Tells Netanyahu U.S. Still Ready to Broker Gaza Truce
(Agence France Presse/Daily Star) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday phoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to renew a U.S. offer to help mediate a truce as Israel stepped up its military campaign against the Gaza Strip. Kerry "highlighted the U.S. concern about escalating tensions on the ground," a senior State Department official said. The top US diplomat also told the Israeli leader that he was engaged with regional leaders "to help to stop the rocket fire so calm can be restored and civilian casualties prevented." Kerry had condemned the militant rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel, and "stressed Israel's right to defend itself." But he also "underscored the United States' readiness to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement."