Israel / Gaza: at the UN, China regrets the "obstruction" of the United States

Palestinians carry one of the survivors under the rubble of a building after it was struck by Israeli strikes in Gaza City on May 16, 2021. © AFP / Mohammed Abed MOHAMMED ABED

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3 min

The Israeli army bombed the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing at least 42 Palestinians, and targeting the home of a leader of the Islamist movement Hamas.

This is the 7th day of a conflict of "unprecedented intensity", according to the Red Cross (ICRC).

A ram car attack targeting Israeli security forces left scores of people injured in East Jerusalem this afternoon.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called an emergency Security Council meeting.

The clashes must "

cease immediately

" because they risk "

triggering an uncontrollable security and humanitarian crisis in the region

", he said. 

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With our correspondent in New York

,

Carrie Nooten

This meeting of the United Nations Security Council is a public meeting which should allow all parties to make their voices heard.

We heard the angry Palestinian Authority once again condemn the Israeli occupation;

Israel equally angry to accuse Hamas of premeditating the conflict. 

We heard the UN, through the voices of its Secretary General and its special envoy, regret these latest escalations, particularly deadly and call for an immediate end to the violence.

The 15 Council countries have of course condemned the attacks against civilians on both sides, attacks against the press as well… We know that they are negotiating a joint declaration on the sidelines of this meeting, which would send a real message from the international community. would address the Palestinian Authority as well as Israel.

But

a priori

, they have not yet reached an agreement on this declaration.

China regrets US " 

obstruction 

"

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not hesitate to accuse the United States of " 

obstruction 

".

With good reason: this last week, the Council met twice on the subject, given the escalation of violence.

And on two occasions, Washington has refused to allow the Council to agree on a joint declaration.

Again today, we heard American Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield be very shy on the subject.

While it was thought that the policy of the Biden administration might reveal itself in more detail.

And it is not only internationally that Joe Biden is criticized: within his party, he is also contested by the most left-wing fringe of Democrats, who would like to see him take a position more favorable to the Palestinian cause.

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  • Israel

  • Palestinian territories

  • Gaza

  • UN