The UN Security Council on Friday failed to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas after Russia and China vetoed it.
Had it passed, the resolution would have been the first time since the start of the Israeli military operation against the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas that the most powerful UN body had spoken out in favour of a sustained ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, Washington, Israel's closest ally, had opposed the word "ceasefire" and vetoed three resolutions in the Security Council, the most powerful UN body.
However, in view of the rising number of civilian casualties and the threat of famine in the Gaza Strip, the US is now putting more pressure on Israel.
