Gaza’s ‘day of rage’
ARAB foreign ministers have demanded the US rescind President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, calling it a “grave” development that puts Washington on the same side as “occupation” and the violation of international law.
The ministers also called for the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution condemning Mr Trump’s decision.
“Jerusalem has been occupied for 50 years. This is an extended battle, a battle that will be escalated,” Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said.
In Cairo, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki said the Palestinians would seek a UN Security Council resolution over Mr Trump’s decision on Jerusalem.
Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron will work together to try to persuade the US to reconsider the move, a Turkish presidential source said. Mr Trump’s announcement last week on Jerusalem, and his intention to move the US Embassy there, triggered denunciations from around the world, with even close allies suggesting he had needlessly stirred more conflict in an already volatile region.
The Gaza Strip and West Bank have been ablaze with days of violent protests against Mr Trump’s decision.
Israeli air strikes in Gaza have killed two Palestinian gunmen after rockets were fired from the enclave.
Gaza militants launched at least three rockets towards Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip — which is controlled by Hamas — after dark on Saturday.
The day was declared a “day of rage” by Palestinians.
A Hamas source confirmed the two men killed in the predawn air strikes belonged to the group, which has urged Palestinians to keep up confrontations with Israeli forces.
However, Palestinian protests yesterday were less intense than on the previous two days.
In East Jerusalem, about 60 people demonstrated near the walled Old City, where paramilitary border police and officers on horseback tried to disperse the crowd with teargas.
Across the Arab and Muslim worlds, thousands more protesters had gathered to express solidarity.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the US could no longer broker peace talks, while a senior United Arab Emirates official said Mr Trump’s move was a boon to radicals.