Kuwait urges UN to condemn Israel

UNITED NATIONS -- Kuwait is urging the Security Council to condemn Israel's use of force against Palestinian civilians "in the strongest terms," especially in the Gaza Strip, and to deploy an international force to protect civilians.

A draft resolution by Kuwait, which is the Arab representative on the council, also demands Israel "immediately cease its military reprisals, collective punishment and unlawful use of force against civilians, including in the Gaza Strip."

The draft, obtained early Friday by The Associated Press, calls for "the full lifting of the blockade and the restrictions imposed by Israel on the movement and access into and out of the Gaza Strip," including immediately opening all crossing points for humanitarian aid, commercial goods and people to enter and leave.

Kuwait's effort comes after the Security Council couldn't agree on a statement about a confrontation in Gaza on Monday where Israeli troops killed nearly 60 Palestinians during mass border protests. It was the deadliest day of cross-border violence in Gaza since a 2014 war between Israel and Hamas.

Palestinian officials called it a massacre of protesters demonstrating against a decade-long blockade; Israel said it was defending its border against a militant-fueled mob.

Kuwait had tried to get the council to issue a statement expressing outrage at the killings and seeking an independent investigation, among other things, but the U.S., Israel's closest ally, blocked it.

At a Security Council meeting Tuesday, the U.N.'s top Mideast envoy, Nikolay Mladenov, said there was no justification for the killings

The Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council also voted 29-2 with 14 abstentions Friday to condemn "the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians" and authorized a commission of inquiry to look into the deadly crackdown on protesters in Gaza.

Israel's Ambassador Danny Danon responded to the Kuwaiti draft resolution saying, "The cynicism and attempts to distort reality have reached a new low. Israel will continue to defend its sovereignty and the security of its citizens against the terror and murderous violence of Hamas."

"This shameful draft resolution is a proposal to support Hamas' war crimes against Israel and the residents of Gaza who are being sent to die for the sake of preserving Hamas' rule," he said in a statement.

The United States has defended Israel's actions in Gaza and will very likely veto the resolution if it's put to a vote. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Hamas had stirred the violence and Israel had shown "restraint."

U.N. diplomats said Security Council experts are expected to meet Monday to discuss the draft.