The UN Security Council met Sunday for the third time since Monday to try to pass a declaration calling for an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestine.

The Chinese Foreign Minister regretted the "obstruction" of the United States. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday regretted the "obstruction" of the United States to pass the UN Security Council a declaration calling for an end to hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians, during a emergency session of this instance.

"The Security Council must take action," he said, recalling that China was (along with Norway and Tunisia) at the origin of a draft text for a week.

"Because of the obstruction of a country, the Security Council has not been able to speak with one voice," he lamented, asking Washington "to assume its responsibilities" at the UN.

Third meeting since Monday

The Sunday meeting is the third - and the first public - of the Security Council since last Monday, organized at the initiative of China, Norway and Tunisia.

During the first two sessions, last Monday and Wednesday, the United States, isolated, opposed, according to diplomats, the adoption of a declaration of the Security Council which wanted to deplore the civilian victims, calling for an end to hostilities and reaffirm the project of a solution with two States living side by side, Israel and Palestine on the basis of UN resolutions.

The United States still reluctant

The Security Council, responsible for world peace, is the only institution that has not taken an official position on the conflict.

On Sunday, negotiations continued on a text but the United States continued to be reluctant, diplomats told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Washington has so far emphasized the need to allow time for behind-the-scenes diplomacy to achieve a ceasefire and has ruled that a Council statement would be "counterproductive", a position not understood by one. majority of Council members, especially among traditional allies of the United States.