Intensified fighting across Gaza

The United States has maintained pressure on Israel to enhance the protection of Palestinian civilians throughout a fierce offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

However, it’s worth noting that the U.S. also vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire during this period.

Fighting intensified on Friday, leading to a higher Palestinian death toll as Israel conducted airstrikes across Gaza from north to south.

This marked an escalation in the ongoing two-month-long conflict against Hamas.

Decrying a ‘spiralling humanitarian nightmare’, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared that nowhere in Gaza was safe for civilians, hours before the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution backed by the vast majority of its members calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The vote left Washington diplomatically isolated on the 15-member council.

Thirteen members voted in favor of the draft resolution put forward by the United Arab Emirates, while Britain abstained.