US Embassy in Jerusalem: 55 Palestinians killed, 1,204 injured in Gaza protests

Over 50 Palestinians were killed while thousands injured when Israeli forces shot the protestors along the Gaza border on Monday. The people were protesting against the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem.

May 14 proved to be the deadliest day of cross-border violence since the disastrous 2014 war between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

Gaza protesters continued their massive agitation throughout the day and set tires ablaze and hurled firebombs and stone toward the Israeli armed forces across the border. The Israeli military, which has come under scrutiny for using excessive force and strength against unarmed protesters, said that Hamas attempted to carry out bombing and shooting attacks under the cover of protesters.

At least 55 Palestinians, including four minors and a young girl, lost their lives, the Gaza Health Ministry said.  The ministry also informed that 1,204 Palestinians were injured by gunfire, including 116, who were in critical condition.

There was no mention of the Gaza violence at the inauguration ceremony of the new embassy on Monday. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and other top bureaucrats joined an American delegation of US President Donald Trump administration officials and Republican and evangelical Christian supporters.

Trump’s son-in-law and chief Mid-east adviser Jared Kushner headlined the US delegation along with his wife Ivanka Trump.

(with agency inputs)