US vows to veto Gaza ceasefire resolution at next UN Security Council vote

UN officials report a quarter of the 2.3 million population are now facing starvation

Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike on a residential building in Rafah, Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP)

The US has announced it will veto a call for Israel to lay down arms against the people of Palestine in an upcoming vote at the UN Security Council.

The vote, tabled by Algeria and backed by 22 Arab nations,  demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and is expected to take place on Tuesday.