France & Arab group fail to get U.N. Security Council to condemn Israel. Succeed in blocking condemnation of Palestinian rocket attacks on civilians.

"The Biden administration, together with the UK, blocked the United Nations Security Council from issuing a statement condemning the IDF’s operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said Thursday.

‘We succeeded in blocking condemnation of Israel with the help of the US, whom we worked in conjunction with,’ he told Army Radio.

‘The US, together with Great Britain, clarified that they would not allow a statement,’ he added.

Security Council holds closed-door meeting on Gaza

Erdan spoke after the 15-member Security Council held a closed-door meeting on Thursday about the situation in Gaza at the request of the United Arab Emirates, France and China, with Russia’s support.

The US and the UK, together with Russia, China and France, are among the five UNSC members that have permanent seats on the council and veto power.

Their opposition to the issuance of such a statement or condemnation meant the issue never came to a vote...

At least 16 Gazan civilians were killed, including women and children, Reuters reported.

Islamic Jihad has fired more than 500 rockets at Israel over the past two days. It launched a salvo of rockets last week as well.

Erdan unsuccessfully pushed for the UNSC to condemn the Palestinians’ indiscriminate firing of rockets..."