Biden's U.N. ambassador says Israel and the Palestinians should "avoid actions that undermine a peaceful future"

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told world leaders on Sunday that the U.S. will lend support "should the parties seek a ceasefire, because we believe Israelis and Palestinians equally have a right to live in safety and security."  Fighting between Israel and Hamas started nearly a week ago, with over 180 Palestinians and eight Israelis dead as of Sunday, making it the worst fighting in the region since the 2014 war. 

Thomas-Greenfield urged all parties to "uphold and respect the historic status quo at the holy sites."   Her call for calm came after Israeli ambassador to the U.N. and U.S., Gilad Erdan, told the Council that Hamas had "indiscriminately fired deadly missiles at Israeli civilians while hiding behind Palestinian civilians."