The United States on Saturday blocked a draft UN Security Council statement urging restraint and
calling for an investigation of clashes on the Gaza-Israel border that left 16 dead, diplomats said.
Kuwait, which represents Arab countries on the council, presented the proposed statement, which called for an "independent and transparent investigation" of the violence.
The draft council statement also expressed "grave concern at the situation at the border."
And it reaffirmed "the right to peaceful protest" and expressed the council's "sorrow at the loss of innocent Palestinian lives."
The draft statement was circulated to the council on Friday, but on Saturday the United States raised objections and said it did not support its adoption, a Security Council diplomat told AFP.
The proposed statement also called "for respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including protection of civilians," according to the draft seen by AFP.
Council members "called upon all sides to exercise restraint and prevent a further escalation," the draft said.
The proposed statement stressed the need to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs based on a two-state solution.
At least 30,000 people took part in Friday’s riot, IDF Spokesman Ronen Manelis said Friday. Protesters burned tires and threw firebombs and rocks at the border and at IDF forces.
Hamas also sent a seven-year-old girl to confront IDF soldiers who were stationed along the border fence with Gaza. The IDF ensured that the girl returned safely to her parents.
On Friday evening, the IDF thwarted an attempted shooting attack by a terror cell in northern Gaza.