The United Nations Security Council is voting on a resolution put forward by the United Arab Emirates calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza".
It comes two days after UN chief Antonio Guterres invoked a rarely used power to bring to the council "any matter which...may threaten the maintenance of international peace".
The US has consistently opposed international calls for a ceasefire and is thought likely to vote against the resolution.
But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Israel to do more to protect civilians, saying there is a "gap" between its promises and the reality on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry in the occupied West Bank says six Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli raid on al-Fara refugee camp.
Hamas attacked Israel in October, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages, some of whom were released during a short-lived truce.
Hamas officials in Gaza say more than 17,000 people have died in Israel's retaliatory campaign.
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