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More than 60 Palestinians died on Monday in protests along the Israeli-Gaza border against the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.
Daily Beast reports that the US has blocked a United Nations Security Council statement drafted Monday that called for an independent investigation into the killings.
The statement, vetoed by the U.S., said in an initial draft: “The Security Council expresses its outrage and sorrow at the killing of Palestinian civilians exercising their right to peaceful protest. The Security Council calls for an independent and transparent investigation into these actions to ensure accountability.”
After the scores of deaths on Monday, White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah blamed Hamas, refused to criticize Israel, and said: “Israel has a right to defend itself.”
A tweet by Israel’s Foreign Ministry said: “#Media reports may choose to present all participants in #Hamas’s #Gaza campaign of confrontation as protesters, but the ones trying to breach the fence and attack Israelis clearly warrant a different description.”
READ: US finally opens embassy in Jerusalem as 41 Palestinians die during protests
At least eight minors are among the dead, one of them being an eight month old baby who died after inhaling teargas fired by the Israeli forces.