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UN backs ceasefire call for Gaza UN backs ceasefire call for Gaza
(about 2 hours later)
The 15-strong UN Security Council has voted for a resolution asking for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with the US alone abstaining. The UN Security Council has passed a resolution urging an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with the US alone abstaining.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that members were distressed by the plight of victims and their families on both sides. The UK-drafted resolution also calls for a full Israeli withdrawal, unimpeded humanitarian access and intense diplomatic efforts for peace.
Thirteen days of fighting between Israel and Hamas have left an estimated 765 Palestinians and 14 Israelis dead. After 13 days of war, an estimated 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis are dead.
Israeli warplanes appeared to be making new air strikes on Gaza after dark. Israeli bombing killed at least six Palestinians overnight, medics and Hamas officials say.
The sound of circling planes and car horns hung in the air over Gaza City and several explosions from apparent airstrikes lit up the night-time sky, an Associated Press reporter says. In a report which could not be verified independently, Hamas said a bomb had flattened a five-storey apartment block in northern Gaza.
A UN agency has halted aid operations in Gaza citing danger to its workers. Foreign correspondents confirm that Israeli warplanes made new air strikes after dark.
The suspension would continue "until the Israeli authorities can guarantee our safety and security", the UN's relief agency Unrwa said. The UN's relief agency halted aid operations in Gaza on Thursday after one person was killed and two hurt when a fork-lift truck on a UN aid mission came under Israeli tank fire at Gaza's Erez crossing.
It came after one person was killed and two hurt when a fork-lift truck on a UN aid mission came under Israeli tank fire at Gaza's Erez crossing. US waits
Responding to the suspension, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel fully supported the work of the UN and other humanitarian agencies in Gaza. It is the first time the Security Council has acted since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began on 27 December.
Arab criticism
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner spent the day in intense talks with Arab foreign ministers in New York.
GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps
"The British Government has been calling from Day 1 - in the United Nations - for an immediate halt to the violence," Mr Miliband said.
"But tonight - at last - the United Nations is speaking clearly with one voice. It's speaking clearly for a ceasefire, clearly for action on smuggling of arms, clearly on the opening of the crossings.
"And it's trying to speak up for the people of the Middle East, whether they live in Gaza or in Israel, because, in the end, they're going to have to live next door to each other."
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN says that difficulties had arisen over the wording of calls for an immediate ceasefire and on action to stop the smuggling of weapons through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza, our correspondent adds.
Language of HamasGaza offensive - in mapsIn pictures: Conflict continuesLanguage of HamasGaza offensive - in mapsIn pictures: Conflict continues
These difficulties were later resolved. Explaining America's abstention, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the resolution was a step forward but her government wanted to see the outcome of mediation efforts.
"The United States thought it important to see the outcomes of the Egyptian mediation efforts, in order to see what this resolution might have been supporting and that is why we chose to abstain," she said.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was the Council's job "to turn the words of [the] resolution into reality".
Israel wants to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel and to stop Hamas smuggling weapons into Gaza via Egypt, while Hamas says any ceasefire deal must include an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza.Israel wants to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel and to stop Hamas smuggling weapons into Gaza via Egypt, while Hamas says any ceasefire deal must include an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza.
Efforts have continued to broker a full ceasefire - a senior Israeli official is in Cairo to hear details of a plan put forward by Egypt and France.Efforts have continued to broker a full ceasefire - a senior Israeli official is in Cairo to hear details of a plan put forward by Egypt and France.
A Hamas delegation is expected in the Egyptian capital at some stage for parallel "technical" talks, Egyptian diplomats said.A Hamas delegation is expected in the Egyptian capital at some stage for parallel "technical" talks, Egyptian diplomats said.
Early on Thursday, at least three rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, prompting Israel to reply with artillery and raising fears that the conflict might spread.
The UN's relief agency Unwra said it was "with great regret" that it had been forced to make a difficult decision temporarily to halt aid deliveries.The UN's relief agency Unwra said it was "with great regret" that it had been forced to make a difficult decision temporarily to halt aid deliveries.
"Our installations have been hit, our workers have been killed in spite of the fact that the Israeli authorities have the co-ordinates of our facilities and that all our movements are co-ordinated with the Israeli army," said Unrwa spokesman Chris Gunness."Our installations have been hit, our workers have been killed in spite of the fact that the Israeli authorities have the co-ordinates of our facilities and that all our movements are co-ordinated with the Israeli army," said Unrwa spokesman Chris Gunness.
The International Committee of the Red Cross also accused Israel of failing to fulfil its duty to help wounded civilians in Gaza.The International Committee of the Red Cross also accused Israel of failing to fulfil its duty to help wounded civilians in Gaza.
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