US Embassy move to Jerusalem marks massacre day of Palestinians by Israel

wilayattimes (Palestine)

Gaza: Zionist Israeli forces killed dozens of Palestinians in bloody clashes at the Gaza border Monday in the deadliest day there since the 2014 war, as the US officially opened its Embassy in Jerusalem just 50 miles away.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians are protesting the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, and Israeli army forces have killed 58 protesters, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry also says some 2,770 people have been hurt in demonstrations and clashes.

Most of the dead were killed by Israeli fire near the border. Souces  heard gunshots in spurts and saw a tank moving towards the fence in the border area of Malaka. Israeli drones also dropped tear gas in an effort to disperse protesters.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of committing a “horrific massacre” and called on the international community to immediately intervene. The Palestinian Health Ministry said more than 2,700 had suffered injuries, and that many of the dead had not yet been identified.

Many of the injured Palestinians were young men who were hit by live ammunition, according to British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu Sitteh, who spoke to Media from a hospital run by a British charity in Jabaliya camp in northern Gaza.

Monday’s death toll was the biggest number of fatalities suffered in one day since the latest round of demonstrations began more than six weeks ago. The previous high was 17, which happened on the day the protests started on March 30.

“By far, this is the worst day. Worse than the first Friday (of the Gaza protests) and we’re expecting it to be as bad tomorrow,” Abu Sitteh said, adding that a majority of the wounded were suffering from limb injuries that could have “long-term consequences.”

“Each of these young men will need five or seven surgeries for their injuries and I would say 60% of them will be left with some permanent disability.”

Zionist Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military’s actions, tweeting Monday evening that “every country has the duty to defend its borders.”

Netanyahu concluded security consultations with the defense minister, public security minister, IDF chief of staff, and others on Monday night, ahead of more expected protests.

In a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, Netanyahu noted that “the determined action of the IDF and the security forces prevented a breach into Israel’s borders.”

More widespread protests are expected on Tuesday, when Palestinians mark Nakba Day, during which they mourn what they consider the “catastrophe” of the creation of the state of Israel 70 years ago.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called it a “massacre,” and asked for a new partner to step forward and replace the U.S. in brokering talks with Israel.

Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Trump announced last December that he would break with the consensus of America’s allies and decades of tradition by recognizing Jerusalem as the official capital, and moving the embassy there from Tel Aviv.

The White House is blaming the deaths on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

“The responsibility for these tragic deaths rests squarely with Hamas,” principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah said at a White House press conference Monday afternoon.

“Hamas is intentionally and cynically provoking this response,” Shah said. “As the secretary of state said, Israel has the right to defend itself.”

As news of the violence spread, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres – who is slated to visit President Trump in Washington on Friday – said he is “particularly worried” about what he called “the high number of people killed,” according to the AP.

“A great day for Israel!” President Trump tweeted on Monday. He also told his followers to watch Fox News for coverage of the embassy’s opening.

The U.S. delegation visiting Israel for the opening includes the president’s daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, along with Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt, and Ambassador David Friedman.

To thank Trump for his decision, Jerusalem’s mayor, Nir Barkat, renamed a square near the new U.S. outpost. Secretary Mnuchin received a plaque today bearing its new name: “United States Square in honor of President Donald J. Trump.”