52 killed and 1,200 injured in border protests

GAZA: Palestinian anger fuelled by US opening of embassy in Jerusalem

Israeli soldiers shot and killed at least 52 Palestinians and left another 1,200 injured during mass protests yesterday along the Gaza border, health officials said.

It was the deadliest day in the region since a devastating 2014 cross-border war, and cast a shadow over the inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem.

In a show of anger fuelled by the embassy move, Palestinian protesters set tyres ablaze and hurled firebombs and stones toward Israeli troops across the border. Later, Israeli forces opened fire from tanks, sending protesters fleeing for cover. The military said its troops came under fire in some areas, and claimed protesters had been attempting to break through the border fence. It said troops shot and killed three Palestinians who were trying to plant a bomb.

The UN human rights chief said on Twitter that “Israeli live fire in #Gaza must stop now”, and demanded respect for human life. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein decried the “shocking killing of dozens” and the injury of hundreds by Israeli forces in the Palestinian areas. He added on the UN human rights office’s Twitter feed that perpetrators of “outrageous human rights violations” must be held to account.

US President Donald Trump said in a video message played at the new US embassy inauguration, which took place 45 miles from the bloodshed on the Gaza border, that he remains committed to “facilitating a lasting peace agreement” between Israelis and Palestinians.

“A great day for Israel!” Mr Trump tweeted earlier.

Palestinian protesters, above, and below right, and Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and President Netanyahu and wife Sara at the inauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem yesterday.