The UN Security Council has backed a watered-down resolution calling on Israel and Hamas to allow the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Following days of negotiations, the council voted 13-0 in favour, with Russia and the US abstaining.

The resolution, sponsored by the United Arab Emirates, stopped short of calling for a ceasefire. However, it demanded all sides “allow and facilitate the use of all... routes to and throughout the entire Gaza Strip, including border crossings... for the provision of humanitarian assistance.”

With the death toll rising, the 15-member council had been struggling to find language it could agree on.

Earlier this month the US, Israel’s closest ally, vetoed another UAE-sponsored resolution which called for a ceasefire. Britain abstained in the vote.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted there will be no ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas, which killed around 1,400 people on October 7, is eliminated.

International pressure for another pause in the fighting has been growing after weeks of a sustained ground and air campaign by Israel.

According to Hamas, the bombardment of Gaza has killed 20,057 people, including 8,000 children.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Gaza faced a “humanitarian catastrophe”.

The resolution is the result of days of negotiation, involving US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts, including Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron.

Key changes saw demands for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” dropped from the text.

Instead, it called “for urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and also for creating the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.”

Other changes handed over responsibility for monitoring aid deliveries to a UN-appointed humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator, rather than the UN itself.

Lord Cameron welcomed the resolution.

“As well as the need for expanded humanitarian access, the UN resolution today demands the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. This is vital, he said.

“Crucially, the resolution also calls for steps towards a sustainable ceasefire,” he continued.

“A sustainable ceasefire must mean that Hamas is no longer there, able to threaten Israel with rocket attacks and other forms of terrorism.”