US President Joe Biden has told Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu he expects a "significant de-escalation" in the Gaza conflict on Wednesday.
Mr Biden wanted a "path to ceasefire", the White House said.
The US is a staunch ally of Israel and has so far opposed a joint UN Security Council statement on the conflict.
In response Mr Netanyahu said he was "determined to carry on" until "calm and security are restored to Israeli citizens", according to Israeli media.
The conflict is in its 10th day, with a continuing exchange of rocket fire from Palestinian militants into Israel and Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
On Wednesday, four rockets were also fired from Lebanon into Israel and Israel's military responded by firing artillery shells at "a number of targets in Lebanese territory". It was not immediately clear whether this would prove to be a significant escalation.
