Obama, in call with Netanyahu, urges humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking by phone on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressed the need for an immediate, unconditional humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the White House said. Urging a permanent end to hostilities on the basis of the 2012 ceasefire agreement, Obama added that "ultimately, any lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups and the demilitarization of Gaza." (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Peter Cooney and Jim Loney)