Obama commends Morsi's Gaza truce efforts

US President Barack Obama called Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi again to discuss the situation in Gaza and "commended" his efforts to secure a truce, the White House said Tuesday. "He commended President Morsi's efforts to pursue a de-escalation" in Gaza, deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling home from Asia with Obama during a stopover in Japan. "He also underscored that President Morsi's efforts reinforce the important role that President Morsi and Egypt play on behalf of regional security and the pursuit of broader peace between the Palestinians and Israelis."