RAGE AGAINST US
A Palestinian man was killed and hundreds others were wounded Friday during a “day of rage” in the West Bank, Gaza and in East Jerusalem — as thousands of protesters railed against President Trump’s recognition of the ancient city as Israel’s capital, according to reports.
The dead protester was identified as 30-year-old Mahmoud alMasri, who was shot by Israeli troops in Gaza, Haaretz reported
“During the riots, Israel Defense Forces soldiers fired selectively towards two main instigators and hits were confirmed,” the army said.
At one point, Gaza officials reported that another man was killed, but later said he was in “very critical” condition after being shot in the head.
An estimated 5,000 Palestinian protesters held demonstrations and clashed with Israeli security forces after midday prayers.
Israel’s Iron Dome missile-defense system intercepted a rocket fired toward the southern community of Sderot, which sits less than a mile from the Gaza border, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The Islamist group Hamas, which controls Gaza, called for a new Palestinian intifada.
“Whoever moves his embassy to occupied Jerusalem will become an enemy of the Palestinians and a target of Palestinian factions,” Hamas leader Fathi Hammad said as protesters torched posters of Trump.
As Friday prayers ended at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, worshipers made their way toward the Old City and chanted: “Jerusalem is ours, Jerusalem is our capital,” and “We don’t need empty words, we need stones and Kalashnikovs.”
Scuffles broke out between protesters and Israeli troops in Hebron, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Ramallah and elsewhere as protesters burned Israeli and American flags in displays of fury.
According to the Red Crescent, 254 Palestinians were injured. Of those, 178 suffered from tear-gas inhalation, another 52 were hurt by rubber bullets, and 11 were hit by live bullets, Haaretz reported.
The diplomatic fallout from Trump’s declaration also continued — with suggestions that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may refuse to meet Vice President Mike Pence during a visit to the region this month.
At an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and Italy described Trump’s decision as “unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region.”
But UN Ambassador Nikki Haley accused the UN of unfair attacks on Israel.
“Israel will never be, and should never be, bullied into an agreement by the United Nations, or by any collection of countries that have proven their disregard for Israel’s security,” Haley said.
Thousands also protested Trump’s move in Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, Algeria, Yemen, Somalia, Egypt and other countries.