The Security Council is expected to vote on the US-drafted ceasefire resolution on Friday and continue talks in Qatar.

The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote as early as Friday on a resolution drafted by the United States calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, while the European Union called for a “humanitarian pause,” increasing pressure on Israel to halt its to end a five-month ceasefire – long bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

Washington, Israel’s staunchest ally, has gradually toughened its tone after showing early solidarity with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war in Gaza.

The latest draft resolution marks a further tightening of Washington’s approach amid growing global condemnation of a war in which some 32,000 Palestinians have been killed.

UN experts also warn against one impending famine as a result of the Israeli blockade.

The US draft text describes an “immediate and permanent ceasefire” as an imperative to protect civilians and enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance. A ceasefire would also be contingent on the release of some of the remaining people Prisoners taken over by Hamas in its attack on Israel on October 7th.

So far, the US has avoided mentioning a ceasefire and has vetoed UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire, most recently in February.

Announcing the vote on Friday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield said U.S. diplomats had been working on a resolution that “recognizes ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of an agreement that… would clearly support the release of hostages and enable an increase in humanitarian aid.”

There was some unease over the language used in the US draft, and a second resolution was also drafted with stronger language calling for an immediate ceasefire. It is supported by eight of the ten non-permanent members of the 15-member body.

The diplomatic moves at the United Nations came as EU leaders met in Brussels and called for an “immediate humanitarian pause leading to a permanent ceasefire” in Gaza.

They also called for “the unconditional release of all hostages” and urged Israel not to go ahead with its plan for a major ground offensive in the southernmost city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge from the war.

The EU said such an attack would “worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and prevent the urgently needed delivery of essential services and humanitarian assistance.”

The ceasefire calls came as ceasefire negotiations brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt were set to continue in Doha. A statement from Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s intelligence chief David Barnea would travel to Qatar on Friday to meet with mediators.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his sixth trip to the region since the conflict began, said he believes there could be a deal between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza and its attack on Israel in October killed more than 1,000 people.

Negotiations in Qatar focused on a roughly six-week ceasefire that would in return allow the release of 40 Israeli prisoners Hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli prisons.

“The negotiators continue to work. The gaps are narrowing and we continue to push for an agreement in Doha. There is still a lot of work ahead of us to get there. But I continue to believe it is possible,” Blinken said.

The main obstacle was that Hamas said it would only release prisoners under a deal that would end the war, while Israel said it would only discuss a temporary pause.