Obama discusses violence in Israel, Gaza with Turkish Prime Minister

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan at Cairo University in Egypt on Nov. 17. Photo by Asmaa Waguih/Reuters

President Barack Obama called Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to discuss how the two countries could help bring an end to escalating violence between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, a White House official said on Saturday.

Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser, told reporters the United States "wants the same thing as the Israelis want," which is an end to rocket attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza.

The United States is emphasizing diplomacy and "de-escalation" as keys to solving the conflict, Rhodes said.