Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday (December 9) that he appreciated the United State's veto at the U.N. Security Council's, blocking a demand for a ceasefire in Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

“Other countries must also understand that it's impossible to support the elimination of Hamas on one side, and on the other to call for the end of the war, which will prevent the elimination of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.

At the United Nations on Friday, Washington used its veto to reject a vote by 13 of the Security Council's 15 members backing a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Britain abstained.

Since a truce collapsed last week, Israel has expanded its ground campaign into the southern half of the Gaza Strip by pushing into Khan Younis. Simultaneously, both sides have reported a surge in fighting in the north.

(Inputs from Reuters)