Israel kept up its deadly bombardment of Gaza as Washington vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.
Global powers trying to navigate a way out of the spiralling crisis have so far come up short, and mediation efforts have so far failed to secure a truce to halt the fighting.
But in New York, Washington vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by Algeria, which demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the “unconditional” release of all hostages.
The veto provoked criticism from countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and even close US allies France and Slovenia.
Hamas said the US veto equalled "a green light for the occupation to commit more massacres”.
As world powers voted, Israeli strikes pounded Gaza early on Wednesday as fighting on the ground raged on, leaving 103 people dead.
Witnesses reported heavy fire in areas all across Gaza, including the south of the territory's main city Khan Younis and Rafah near the Egyptian border, where around 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian children in Gaza City in the northern part of the Gaza Strip rallied on Tuesday to protest the scarcity of food and water.
The children marched in the streets of Gaza City holding banners with some written on them "bread becomes my dream" and "we want food," among others.
Holding empty pots during the rally as an expression of lack of food, they chanted to demand an end to the war.