UN Official:

US Blocked Inquiry into Israeli Violence

TEHRAN (defapress)- A UN official said Monday the US declined calls from the UN Security Council for an investigation into violence on the Israeli-Gaza border that left 18 Palestinians dead.

News ID: 69517

Date: 03 April 2018 - 17:46

Speaking at a press conference at UN headquarters, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Permanent Representative of Peru to the UN and President of the Security Council for April, said the council had accepted a statement calling for an “independent and transparent investigation” into the violence, Anadolu Agency reported.

But the council failed to condemn the Israeli violence against Palestinian protesters and the statement was not adopted because of the rejection of the US on Saturday.

"There was a proposal for a press statement. One country objected, and we are unable to adopt it," Meza-Cuadra told reporters, referring to the US "We accepted it, but there was some opposition to it unfortunately."

Meza-Cuadra's response came after a question about his reaction to the Security Council’s inefficacy in addressing the serious incident in Gaza.

"We cannot really say what the next step will be, but we are very attentive to events as they unfold on the ground," he said.

The Security Council on Friday called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza after Palestinians were martyred by the Israeli Army during a peaceful protest earlier in the day.

The emergency closed-door session was requested by Kuwait.

At least 18 Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured by Israeli gunfire during peaceful rallies near the border of the Gaza Strip demanding the return of refugees.