Biden says Hamas hiding behind civilians; ‘I too am answerable’: Netanyahu | Top updates

US President Joe Biden said the US will ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against these terrorists as Israel has the right and the responsibility to respond to the slaughter of their people. "Hamas does not represent the vast majority of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip or anywhere else. Hamas is hiding behind Palestinian civilians and is despicable, and, not surprisingly, cowardly as well," Biden said addressing a joint press conference with Australian PM Anthony Albanese.

The US-authored draft resolution on the Gaza crisis was vetoed by Russia and China in the UN Security Council.

Israel-Hamas war: What happened in the last 24 hours?

1. The US-authored draft resolution condemned Hamas' attack on Israel and called for the release of the hostages. The resolution did not call for a ceasefire and recognised the rights of both countries to defend themselves. Russia, China, UAE voted against the resolution.

2. Gilad Erdan, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, said he was shocked that these countries voted against the resolution. "Those who have voted against the US-led resolution have shown the world that this Council is incapable of doing the most basic task of condemning ISIS-like terrorists and cannot confirm the right to self-defence of the victim of these heinous crimes. Israel has been attacked and continues to be attacked," he said.

3. "If any of your countries endured a similar massacre, I am certain that you would act with much greater force than Israel," he said.

4. A total of 10 nations voted in favour of the resolution while two abstained.

5. To counter the US-authored draft, Russia put forward its proposal calling for an "immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire".

6. The US and the UK vetoed the Russian draft and eventually both resolutions were rejected.

7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time acknowledged that he is answerable for the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel -- the security lapse. "We will examine in detail, we will get to the bottom of it. The fault will be examined and everyone will have to give answers, including me. But all this will happen later," Netanyahu said.

8. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Israel-Hamas conflict could spill far beyond the borders of the Middle East.

9. Biden said he asked Israel to delay the ground invasion of Gaza to facilitate the process of the return of the hostages but did not demand the military operations be stalled.

10. "What I have indicated to him, is that if that’s possible to get these folks out safely, that’s what he should do. It’s their decision,” Biden said adding that a two-state solution will be the way forward once the war is over.

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