The US's UN ambassador has criticised delegates of "taking advantage" of the emergency meeting to accuse Israel of genocide.

Israel's security cabinet has approved plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the Israeli military to occupy Gaza City, in an expansion of military operations that comes amid international condemnation of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Israel aims to take on Hamas' two remaining strongholds in its new Gaza offensive, which it hopes will conclude "fairly quickly" and end the war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.