Israel-Gaza live updates: France, UK, Canada recognize Palestinian statehood

The U.S. vetoed another Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

"Council Members ignored when the United States made clear that this resolution was unacceptable. The Council instead opted for a performative action -- designed to draw a veto -- that extends Hamas terrorists and those who fund them and support them, and gives them a lifeline," U.S. United Nations Counselor Morgan Ortagus said in a statement delivered to the USSC before the vote.

"It is beyond time that Hamas release every single hostage now and surrender immediately. The United States will continue to work with its partners to bring an end to this horrific conflict for the sake of the people of Gaza, who deserve a future free from Hamas, and of the whole Middle East, which is ready to move to a new chapter of peace and prosperity," Ortagus added.

-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston

More than 450,000 people have been evacuated from Gaza City to southern Gaza as Israeli forces "expanded combat in Gaza City," over the past 24 hours, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Effie Defrin said during a briefing on Thursday.

Two divisions are already operating in Gaza City, the IDF said, and a third division will "join the ground operations in the coming days," Defrin said.

Since the beginning of the second phase of the ongoing operation in Gaza City, Israeli forces have hit more than 1,200 targets it claims belong to terrorists.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

The International Rescue Commission said it has been forced to suspend its work in Gaza City due to the Israeli ground incursion on the city.

"Despite numerous warnings on the humanitarian impact of a Gaza City takeover, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and our partners have been forced to close all of our programming. The solution is tragically simple," Bob Kitchen, vice president of emergencies at the humanitarian aid organization, said in a statement.

"Nutrition treatment for malnourished children and pregnant women has stopped, and our protection services for women and children who have experienced violence have been interrupted -- though we continue to monitor cases as families relocate," he wrote.

"With Gaza's water supply destroyed, we are still delivering emergency water trucking in Gaza city which is a lifeline for those we serve, whilst also closely monitoring the risks faced by our staff," Kitchen said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

The Israel Defense Forces are working to bring the remaining Hamas fighters in Gaza to the "breaking point," spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told ABC News.

Shoshani said there are still "thousands" of Hamas fighters in Gaza City.

"They are losing more than they are recruiting", he added.

ABC News also questioned the disconnect between the IDF's prediction that the ground operation in Gaza City could take "months" and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent suggestion that the operation should be "concise."

"We are operating to have this war over as fast as possible," Shoshani said. "But this war has to be over with the right conditions. No Hamas in power that can carry out another massacre of civilians for no reason."

Asked why the IDF has not published the evidence it says it has that Hamas has been operating from the high-rise buildings in Gaza City which the IDF has been targeting in recent days, Shoshani claimed Hamas uses high rise buildings as "a viewpoint" to activate improvised explosive devices against Israeli troops.

-ABC News' Tom Soufi Burridge, Dorit Long, Lukasz Konopa and Dragana Jovanovic