US urges Israel to drop plans for Rafah ground offensive

Washington supports appeal with draft resolution to UN security council calling for temporary ceasefire

The US has proposed a UN security council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire and for Israel not to go ahead with a planned offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza.

The draft text marks the first time the US has explicitly backed a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, though it adds that the temporary truce should be begun as soon as practicable", leaving some room for manoeuvre by the Israeli military.