US and Russia call for pause in violence in Gaza as UN warns it may have to stop aid

Palestinians inspect the damage of a destroyed house that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. (Picture: AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman)

The United States and Russia led international calls for a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas to allow aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, as Israel maintained its bombardment of the enclave where Palestinians are living in harrowing conditions.

A total of 704 Palestinians, including 305 children, were killed on Tuesday, the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said, a toll the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said was the highest reported in a single day since the conflict began nearly three weeks ago.