Harsh criticism of Israel in UN Security Council - exception USA

"We also reiterate that any attempt to annex or expand settlements violates international law," Zbogar said on behalf of the UK, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia. "Expanding military operations will only further endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including those of the remaining hostages."

The Israeli security cabinet under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided on Friday that the military should take over the city of Gaza - possibly with the aim of taking control of the entire coastal area.

"Suffering has eaten into many souls"

During the meeting, participants described the situation in the coastal area in often dramatic terms. The suffering there was "worse than terrible" and had "eaten into many souls", they said. The head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Ramesh Rajasingham, said: "Gaza is in ruins and almost everyone has been unjustly displaced from their homes in the past two years." States and all others with influence must find the courage to put an end to this suffering.

The five countries that had called for the special session also demanded that Israel expand safe access for humanitarian aid. The terrorist militia Hamas must be disarmed and must not be allowed to play a role in Gaza's future, the declaration said. Instead, the Palestinian Authority, which is responsible for parts of the West Bank, should take the lead.

The United States sided with Israel in the meeting. The meeting was being wrongly used to accuse Israel of genocide, said US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea. "These accusations are politically motivated and categorically false," she said. It was a "propaganda campaign" by Hamas, Shea continued.