The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Israel and the Hamas group to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip, Reuters reports.

The vote on the Brazilian-drafted text was twice delayed in the past couple of days as the United States tries to broker aid access to Gaza. Twelve members voted in favour of the draft text on Wednesday, while Russia and Britain abstained.

Washington traditionally shields its ally Israel from any Security Council action.

The draft resolution urged Israel — without naming it — to rescind its order for civilians and UN staff in Gaza to move to the south of the Palestinian enclave.