Palestinians walk amid the rubble of a house that was hit by early morning Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Monday, May 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) The United States has again blocked a proposed UN Security Council statement calling for an end to “the crisis related to Gaza” and the protection of civilians, especially children. Council diplomats said there was a 12 pm EDT (1600 GMT) deadline Monday for countries to comment on the statement and Washignton objected to it. At a high-level emergency council meeting on Sunday, there were near-unanimous calls for an end to the week-long conflict. The proposed council press statement by China, Norway and Tunisia, obtained by The Associated Press, didn't name Israel or Gaza’s Hamas rulers, instead expressing “grave concern” at the Gaza crisis and the loss of civilian lives and casualties.