Obama expresses 'serious concern' over Gaza crisis

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Sunday called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing his "serious concern" about growing number of casualties in the Gaza crisis, according to a White House statement.

Obama and Netanyahu spoke on Sunday morning by phone, their second call in three days to discuss the situation in Gaza. Obama reiterated the United States' condemnation of attacks by Hamas against Israel, and reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself, the statement said.

"The President also raised serious concern about the growing number of casualties, including increasing Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza and the loss of Israeli soldiers," it said.

Obama told Netanyahu that US Secretary of State John Kerry would soon travel to Cairo to seek an immediate cessation of hostilities based on a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement, the statement said, adding that the US president underscored that the US will work closely with Israel and regional partners on implementing an immediate ceasefire.