UNITED NATIONS: The United States on Thursday (Sep 18) again wielded its veto and thwarted a UN Security Council call for a ceasefire in Gaza, shielding its ally Israel from meaningful diplomatic pressure. The 14 other members of the Council backed the resolution, initiated in August in response to the UN's official declaration of famine . The vote came as Israeli tanks and jets pounded Gaza City , the target of a major new ground offensive, forcing Palestinians to flee south. The resolution