“I urge the members of the Security Council to exercise at least as much scrutiny of the actions of the Hamas terrorist group as it does Israel’s legitimate right of self-defense.”

RT @USUN: Yesterday, Hamas launched 70 rockets into Israel. Who among us would accept 70 rockets launched into your country? We all know the answer to that. No one would. pic.twitter.com/eVzmqoirvS

— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) May 30, 2018

Kuwait, which is a non-permanent member of the Security Council, blocked the U.S. measure to condemn Hamas and instead offered a resolution calling for the “international protection” of the Palestinian people.

“Unlike some situations we deal with here in the Security Council, we’re guilty parties claim mistaken identity, or lack of evidence of responsibility, this is clearly not the case,” Haley said, expressing frustration at the lack of an agreement on condemning the rocket attacks. “Hamas openly claims responsibility for this attack. They do so proudly. Their only regret is that the attack did not kill anyone.”

Other representatives from the U.K. and France “unequivocally condemned” the rocket attacks on Israel, but also linked the violence to Palestinian protests earlier this month and the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem for inflaming tensions.

“There is a real risk of a cycle of violence which the players in question could quickly lose control of,” French Ambassador to the U.N. Francois Delattre said.

Ahead of the meeting, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said his country would do what is necessary to protect Israelis from future attacks.

“If Israeli children are not allowed to sleep quietly at night, then the terrorists of Gaza will feel the might of the IDF,” he said. “We will not allow anyone to harm our citizens and we will do all that is necessary to defend them.”

JNS