\n<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s air force on Wednesday continued to pound the Gaza Strip with strikes, and Hamas fighters kept up attacks against Israeli soldiers, a further indication that a United Nations Security Council resolution this week calling for a cease-fire had failed to persuade either side as attempts for an agreement appeared to falter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Over the two days since the U.N. resolution passed on Monday, the Qassam Brigades, Hamas\u2019s military wing, has said it is continuing to carry out attacks against Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military said on Wednesday that warplanes had hit dozens of targets over the previous day, including tunnels, military compounds and militants.<\/p>\n Israel has been outspoken in its condemnation of the Security Council resolution, which called for a cease-fire for the remaining weeks of Ramadan that would lead to a \u201clasting, sustainable\u201d halt in the fighting and the unconditional release of all hostages held by militants in Gaza. The United States, which has vetoed previous attempts, abstained, allowing the resolution to pass.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, met in Jerusalem on Wednesday with Senator Rick Scott, Republican of Florida, and continued to express defiance over the U.S. decision. He argued, according to a statement from his office, that it encouraged \u201cHamas to take a hard line and to believe that international pressure will prevent Israel from freeing the hostages and destroying Hamas.\u201d<\/p>\n Israel and Hamas appear no closer to negotiating a stop in fighting, with significant gaps remaining between them.<\/p>\n