Two Palestinians killed in further clashes over status of Jerusalem

TWO Palestinians were killed in renewed clashes with Israeli forces, Gaza’s health ministry said yesterday, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged France and Europe to play a stronger role in peace efforts amid continued fallout over President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The fresh violence came a day after the UN General Assembly resolution denouncing Mr Trump’s decision.

Mr Abbas, on a visit to Paris, urged France and Europe to play a stronger role in peace efforts, insisting he’ll no longer accept any US plans for Middle East peace because of Mr Trump’s position on Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the administration siding with Israel on the most sensitive issue in the conflict.

Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Kidra said a 24-year-old and a 29-year-old were killed by live fire in clashes along the border with Israel. Another 45 Palestinians were wounded, he said.

The Israeli military said thousands of Palestinians participated in “violent riots” along the Gaza border and across the West Bank, “hurling firebombs and rocks and rolling burning tyres” at Israeli forces.

It said troops responded with tear gas and deployed live fire “selectively toward main instigators”.

Palestinians have been clashing with Israeli troops since Mr Trump’s Jerusalem announcement, on December 6.

Ten Palestinians have been killed and dozens more wounded so far.