The fighting comes as The Guardian newspaper reports the highest-ranking U.N. official in Israel and the Occupied Territories has issued a scathing denunciation of the U.S. role. In a confidential report, Alvaro de Soto condemns the international boycott on the Palestinian government and says U.S. pressure has “pummeled into submission” the U.N.’s role as an impartial broker. De Soto also says Israel has adopted what he calls “an essentially rejectionist” stance toward Palestinians that precludes any chance at meaningful negotiations. De Soto also criticized the Palestinian record at stopping violence against Israel. De Soto submitted the report before stepping down last month.