Israeli troops and Hamas fighters fought fierce gunbattles on the streets of Gaza’s second-biggest city as the United Nations delayed a vote on a bid to boost aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave facing a humanitarian disaster, Reuters reports.

Israel’s campaign to eradicate Hamas behind an Oct. 7 attack has left the coastal enclave in ruins, brought widespread hunger and homelessness, and killed nearly 20,000 Gazans, according to the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry.

A United Nations Security Council vote to set up aid deliveries was delayed by another day on Tuesday as talks continue to try and avoid a third US veto of action over the two-month long Israel-Hamas war.

The 15-member council was initially going to vote on a resolution — drafted by the United Arab Emirates — on Monday. But it has repeatedly been delayed as diplomats say the UAE and the US struggle to agree language citing a cessation of hostilities and a proposal to set up UN aid monitoring.