The United States has kept up pressure on Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians during a fierce offensive against Hamas across Gaza, even as Washington vetoed a UN Security Council demand for an immediate ceasefire, Reuters reports.

The vote left Washington diplomatically isolated on the 15-member council. Thirteen members voted in favour of the draft resolution put forward by the United Arab Emirates, while Britain abstained.

Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood told the council: “We do not support this resolution’s call for an unsustainable ceasefire that will only plant the seeds for the next war.”

Washington instead supports “pauses” like the seven-day halt in fighting that saw Hamas release some hostages and the humanitarian aid flow increase.