THE US/ISRAEL: United States officials called their counterparts in the Israeli government several times yesterday - without apparent effect - to urge an end to its military operation in the Gaza strip. Conor O'Clery in New York reports
This followed sharp White House criticism of Israel for actions in Gaza, which it said "have worsened the humanitarian situation" while not enhancing Israel's security.
The US also declined for the first time in two years to veto a UN Security Council resolution critical of Israeli actions.
The resolution, passed late on Wednesday by 14-0 with the US abstaining, called on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law and not to destroy homes contrary to that law.
The resolution, prompted by the killing of at least 10 Palestinian youths and children by the Israeli military, also expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians made homeless in the Rafah area, and called for emergency assistance.
Earlier this week, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that nearly 2,200 people have been left without shelter and 191 homes were demolished throughout Gaza since the beginning of May.
The White House reaction to the killings was originally muted but as international outrage mounted, the tone changed markedly. Press Secretary Scott McClellan issued a statement late on Wednesday expressing regret at the "loss of life of innocent Palestinian civilians" and rejecting the Israeli view that "its operations in Gaza in the last few days serve the purposes of peace and security". The events "serve as a grim reminder of the wisdom of Israel disengaging from Gaza, and having its security presence replaced by reformed Palestinian security forces that will - and must - themselves act to stop smuggling and halt terrorism," the statement said.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called US Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice to emphasise the need to bring the situation under control.
US media condemned the Israeli action, with the New York Times accusing Israel of engaging in "what looks like a plan to unilaterally destroy the Palestinian territory".