UN to vote on US resolution declaring immediate ceasefire in Gaza is imperative

US United Nations ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (Bebeto Matthews/ AP)

The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a United States-sponsored resolution declaring that “an immediate and sustained ceasefire” in Gaza is “imperative” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than two million hungry Palestinians.

US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said she was optimistic that the 15-member council would approve the new, tougher draft resolution on Friday.