Though it was not clear whether Israel would heed the Council's call, the resolution would increase pressure to stop military action for which it has faced widespread condemnation.

Fourteen of the 15 members voted in favour of the British sponsored resolution, while the US abstained despite agreeing with the goals.

The resolution "stresses the urgency of and calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire, leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza".

It "calls for the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment" and "condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism".

It also asked for efforts to "prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition and to ensure the reopening of the crossing points (into Gaza)."

The resolution came on the 14th day of Israeli offensive in Gaza, as the international outcry reached a crescendo over the death of more than 750 Palestinians, including a large number of women and children, in the Tel Aviv's action.

Israeli operations have so far killed 758 Gazans of whom 257 are children and 56 women, and wounded 3,100 including 1,080 children and 452 women, according to Palestinian reports cited by the UN which its officials say are "credible."

Explaining America's abstention, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who had extended her stay for two days to participate in the negotiations, said the US wanted to see the outcome of the Egyptian initiative first, but allowed the resolution to go forward because it was a step in the right direction.

A negative vote by the US, one of the Council's permanent members with veto powers, would have killed the measure.

The resolution called for renewed efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace with two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace with secure and recognised borders.

The British-drafted text "welcomes the Egyptian initiative," the three-point truce proposal unveiled by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday," and other regional and international efforts that are under way."

The West Bank-based Palestine Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas accepts the two-state solution, while Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, does not recognize Israel's right to exist.

The resolution "encourages tangible steps towards intra-Palestinian reconciliation."

Tel Aviv contends that it cannot hold talks with Hamas as a terrorist outfit cannot be equated with Israel, which is a UN member State.

The 15-member Council welcomed Egyptian and other efforts under way to end the current crisis, which began on December 27 with Israeli air strikes launched with the stated aim of ending Hamas rocket attacks into southern Israel.

Addressing the Council, several members saw the Egyptian initiative as the only viable way to establish a "lasting and durable" peace leading to Palestinian and Israeli states living side by side in peace.

The Egyptians have offered to host talks between Israelis and Palestinian factions to find ways to accommodate concerns of both sides as also between various Palestinian factions to bring about unity.

The UN relief agencies had on Thursday suspended movement of staff in Gaza after two of their workers were killed in Israeli attacks even though the world body says it had already made arrangements with the Israelis to allow them in the area.

Addressing the Council after the vote, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "heartened and relieved... Your decision signals the will of the international community. It must be fully respected by all parties to this conflict."

The resolution has called on member states "to intensify efforts to provide arrangements and guarantees in Gaza in order to sustain a durable ceasefire and calm, including to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition and to ensure the sustained re-opening of crossing points."

Israel has accused Hamas of smuggling more advanced rockets and weapons and has closed crossings into Gaza in response to Hamas rocket fire.

Tel Aviv alleges that Hamas is smuggling arms into Gaza through a network of underground tunnels which run to the Egyptian border, a charge that Cairo denies.

The UN officials have also expressed concern at Israeli statement that any structure in which the tunnel ends is legitimate target.

That was interpreted by some analysts to mean that Israel would consider hospitals and schools as "legitimate targets" if it has the information that tunnel ends in anyone of them.

Adoption of the resolution came as diplomatic efforts to secure an end to the fighting moved into higher gear with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal while also trying to reach Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"The Secretary-General continues his around-the-clock efforts with world leaders to achieve an immediate ceasefire," spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto had earlier chided the Council for its lack of action.

"Rigor mortis seems to have taken over, and we are failing the world, we are failing the cause of peace," he said.