US says no to French push for UN ceasefire action

The US mission to the United Nations said it "will not support actions that we believe undermine efforts to de-escalate" violence between Israel and Palestinian armed groups when asked about a French push for a Security Council resolution.

France circulated a draft text to council members on Wednesday, diplomats told Reuters.

The French draft text, seen by the news agency, demands an immediate cessation of hostilities and condemns "the indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilian areas" without laying blame. 

It urges protection of civilians and revival of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians with the aim of creating two states.

The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel at the UN. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told her UN counterparts on Tuesday that a "public pronouncement right now" by the council would not help calm the crisis.

When asked about the French push for a resolution, a spokesperson for the US mission to the United Nations said: "We've been clear and consistent that we are focused on intensive diplomatic efforts underway to bring an end to the violence and that we will not support actions that we believe undermine efforts to de-escalate."