The United States on Monday again blocked a United Nations Security Council statement that called for a halt in the Israeli-Palestinian violence and the protection of civilians, especially children. It's the third time in a week the U.S. has blocked such moves.

The statement was drafted by China, Tunisia, and Norway and submitted to the 15 council members today. The U.S. said they "could not currently support an expression" by the Security Council, a diplomat told the AFP.

The Security Council has held three emergency meetings on the violence in the past week, without reaching a common position. Israel's main ally the United States has been accused of obstructionism.

“Regrettably, simply because of the obstruction of one country, the Security Council hasn’t been able to speak with one voice,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday. “We call upon the United States to shoulder its due responsibilities of taking a just position.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that the U.S. is working behind the scenes, and said that a UN statement could backfire, AFP reported. "We're not standing in the way of diplomacy," Blinken said.

About 200 people, including 58 children, have been killed so far.

On Sunday, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli air raids were continuing at “full-force” and would “take time”, adding he “wants to levy a heavy price” from Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

The UN Security Council will hold new closed-door talks on the rising tensions on Tuesday, according to diplomats.

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