de-escalate
海外のメディアが今、一番注目しているのは中東情勢です。
de-escalateは、反意語のescalateがそうであるように、あくまで「（規模・範囲などを）段階的に縮小する」という意味で、「段階的」がキモとなります。念のため。（EnDough）
Gaza conflict: Israel vows to intensify offensive
Twenty-eight Palestinians and three Israelis have died since Israel killed Hamas's military chief on Wednesday.
There were further Israeli air strikes on Gaza City overnight on Friday.
Telephoned by PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Barack Obama repeated the US's support for Israel's "right to defend itself".
A White House spokesman said Mr Obama had "expressed regret over the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives".
The two men also discussed options for "de-escalating the situation", he added.
Mr Obama also spoke to Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi on Friday, praising his efforts to pacify the situation in Gaza, said the spokesman.
