New York, 26 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The UN Security Council has again failed to agree on a resolution with a humanitarian focus on the war in Gaza.

Both a draft by the United States and a draft resolution by Russia failed before the UN's most powerful body on Wednesday.

The US text, which stressed Israel's right to self-defence and called for a humanitarian ceasefire, was blocked by vetoes from Russia and China.

The Russian proposal included the demand for a ceasefire and only received four votes in favour.

The UN Security Council had so far been unable to agree on a common line. Last week, a Brazilian draft resolution focusing on humanitarian aid, which was supported by many countries, failed due to a US veto. Russia had also submitted a text, but only received five votes in favour.

Adoption requires at least nine votes in favour from the 15 members, and there must be no veto.

China, France, Britain, Russia and the US have veto power. A resolution adopted in the UN Security Council has a binding effect under international law.