Bloody day on border as US embassy opens

In a jarring contrast, Israeli forces shot and killed at least 55 Palestinians and wounded more than 1200 during mass protests yesterday along the Gaza border, while just a few miles away Israel and the US held a festive inauguration ceremony for the new American Embassy in contested Jerusalem.

It was by far the deadliest day of cross-border violence since a devastating 2014 war between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, and further dimmed the already bleak prospects for President Donald Trump’s hoped-for peace plan.

Throughout the day, Gaza protesters set tires ablaze, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air, and hurled firebombs and stones toward Israeli troops across the border.

The Israeli military, which has come under international criticism for using excessive force against unarmed protesters, said Hamas tried to carry out bombing and shooting attacks under the cover of the protests and released video of protesters ripping away parts of the barbed-wire border fence.

Yesterday’s protests were the culmination of more than a month of weekly demonstrations aimed at breaking a crippling Israeli-Egyptian border blockade.

But the US Embassy move, bitterly opposed by the Palestinians, added further fuel.

There was barely any mention of the Gaza violence at yesterday’s lavish inauguration ceremony for the new embassy, an upgraded consular building located just 80km away. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials joined an American delegation of Trump administration officials and Republican and evangelical Christian supporters.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and chief Mideast adviser, headlined the US delegation with his wife and fellow White House adviser, Ivanka Trump, as well as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and four Republican senators.

Republican super-donor Sheldon Adelson was also present, and evangelical pastors Robert Jeffress and John Hagee delivered blessings.

‘‘A great day for Israel!’’ Trump tweeted earlier.

In a videotaped address, Trump said the embassy move, a key campaign promise, recognises the ‘‘plain reality’’ that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. Yet he added the United States ‘‘remains fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement’’.

By nightfall, at least 55 Palestinians, including a young girl and four other minors, were killed, the Gaza Health Ministry said. It said 1204 Palestinians were wounded by gunfire, including 116 who were in serious or critical condition.

Egypt, an important Israeli ally, condemned the killings of Palestinian protesters, while the UN human rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, decried the ‘‘shocking killing of dozens.’’

Turkey said it was recalling its ambassador to the United States over the US Embassy move. –AP