(BBC News) Russia and China have blocked a U.S. draft resolution put to the UN which for the first time called for a ceasefire and hostage releases in Gaza.
While there have been previous attempts by other countries to call for a ceasefire, the US text marked a hardening of its stance towards Israel.
But Russia and China used their veto. Moscow called the text “hypocritical”.
The move by the U.S., Israel’s key ally, comes at a time of growing tensions between them.
Washington has made clear that it expects Israel to lessen the intensity of its offensive in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry says at least 31,988 people — mostly women and children — have been killed since the war began on October 7.
