The United Nations Security Council has rejected an American motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which included a condemnation of terror group Hamas.

The resolution was blocked by Russia and China, who, as permanent members of the body, are able to exercise a veto.

The resolution put forward on Friday received 11 votes in favour, three against and one abstention.

Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian envoy to the UN, said the proposed motion did not go far enough as it merely described a ceasefire as “imperative” rather than required.

He claimed: “To save the lives of the peaceful Palestinian civilians, this is not enough.”

The draft would not have prevented Israel from embarking on an invasion of Rafah, an operation that the head of the World Health Organisation has begged the Jewish state to abandon on humanitarian grounds.

The United States has previously vetoed four alternative motions calling for a ceasefire.

Barbara Woodward, Britain’s permanent representative to the UN, said: "Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis which will not improve until more aid can get into Gaza.

"So we are deeply disappointed that Russia and China were unable to support this council to clearly and unequivocally state the need for an immediate and sustained ceasefire."

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, said: "There are two deeply, deeply cynical reasons behind this vote. First, Russia and China still could not bring itself to condemn Hamas's terrorist attacks on October 7.

"Russia and China refuses to condemn Hamas for burning people alive, for gunning down innocent civilians at a concert, for raping women and girls, for taking hundreds of people hostage.

"This was the deadliest single attack on Jews since the Holocaust - and a permanent member of this council can't even condemn it."