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| Israeli troops kill dozens of Palestinians in protests as US embassy opens in Jerusalem – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israeli forces opened fire on demonstrators in Gaza on Monday, killing dozens and injuring more than 2,400 people protesting the Monday opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. | Israeli forces opened fire on demonstrators in Gaza on Monday, killing dozens and injuring more than 2,400 people protesting the Monday opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. |
| As bodies fell on the border on what became the bloodiest day in Gaza since the 2014 war, US and Israeli officials celebrated the opening of the embassy. | As bodies fell on the border on what became the bloodiest day in Gaza since the 2014 war, US and Israeli officials celebrated the opening of the embassy. |
| Demonstrations have quieted so we’re closing down the live blog for now. Here is a summary of today’s events: | Demonstrations have quieted so we’re closing down the live blog for now. Here is a summary of today’s events: |
| Gaza’s ministry of health reported 52 people were killed and more than 2,400 were injured during protests at the border between Gaza and Israel. There are six children and one paramedic among the dead, the ministry said. | Gaza’s ministry of health reported 52 people were killed and more than 2,400 were injured during protests at the border between Gaza and Israel. There are six children and one paramedic among the dead, the ministry said. |
| United Nations human rights experts urged Israel to halt excessive force against Palestinian protesters and Amnesty International accused Israel of violating international law. | United Nations human rights experts urged Israel to halt excessive force against Palestinian protesters and Amnesty International accused Israel of violating international law. |
| The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) insisted, however, that is was following protocol. The IDF said it killed three “terrorists” and struck five “terrorist targets.” | The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) insisted, however, that is was following protocol. The IDF said it killed three “terrorists” and struck five “terrorist targets.” |
| Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was acting in self-defense. “Every country has an obligation to defend its borders,” he wrote on Twitter. | Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was acting in self-defense. “Every country has an obligation to defend its borders,” he wrote on Twitter. |
| Senior US officials, including president Donald Trump, have not mentioned the protests in communications celebrating the embassy opening. “Big day for Israel. Congratulations!” the president said on Twitter. | Senior US officials, including president Donald Trump, have not mentioned the protests in communications celebrating the embassy opening. “Big day for Israel. Congratulations!” the president said on Twitter. |
| US secretary of state Mike Pompeo also ignored the deadly protests, while declaring the US was committed to advancing peace between Israel and Palestine. | US secretary of state Mike Pompeo also ignored the deadly protests, while declaring the US was committed to advancing peace between Israel and Palestine. |
| Foreign ministries in the UK, France and Egypt expressed concern about the the violence. UK prime minister Theresa May’s spokesperson said: “We urge calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts.” | Foreign ministries in the UK, France and Egypt expressed concern about the the violence. UK prime minister Theresa May’s spokesperson said: “We urge calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts.” |
| Trump did not attend the embassy dedication ceremony, but his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, a senior advisor to the president, went in his place. Kushner made a rare public address and said the opening of the embassy was an acknowledgement of the truth that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. | Trump did not attend the embassy dedication ceremony, but his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, a senior advisor to the president, went in his place. Kushner made a rare public address and said the opening of the embassy was an acknowledgement of the truth that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. |
| Protests are quieting down in Gaza but they are expected to return tomorrow, a significant day for the Great March of Return movement, a Palestinian group that has held rallies at the border since 30 March. | Protests are quieting down in Gaza but they are expected to return tomorrow, a significant day for the Great March of Return movement, a Palestinian group that has held rallies at the border since 30 March. |
| At these rallies, demonstrators are calling for the right to return to homes they were expelled from in 1948. | At these rallies, demonstrators are calling for the right to return to homes they were expelled from in 1948. |
| The Great March of Return movement culminates on Tuesday, 15 May, which marks what Palestinians call the Nakba, when hundreds of thousands were forced out of their homes or fled amid the fighting that accompanied the creation in 1948 of the state of Israel after the end of the British Mandate. | The Great March of Return movement culminates on Tuesday, 15 May, which marks what Palestinians call the Nakba, when hundreds of thousands were forced out of their homes or fled amid the fighting that accompanied the creation in 1948 of the state of Israel after the end of the British Mandate. |
| Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel acted in self-defense in by firing at protesters on the border. | Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel acted in self-defense in by firing at protesters on the border. |
| “Every country has an obligation to defend its borders,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter. “The Hamas terrorist organisation declares it intends to destroy Israel and sends thousands to breach the border fence in order to achieve this goal. We will continue to act with determination to protect our sovereignty and citizens.” | “Every country has an obligation to defend its borders,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter. “The Hamas terrorist organisation declares it intends to destroy Israel and sends thousands to breach the border fence in order to achieve this goal. We will continue to act with determination to protect our sovereignty and citizens.” |
| לכל מדינה החובה להגן על גבולותיה. ארגון הטרור חמאס מצהיר שבכוונתו להשמיד את ישראל ושולח אלפים לפרוץ את גדר הגבול כדי לממש מטרה זו. נמשיך לפעול בנחישות כדי להגן על ריבונותנו ואזרחינו | לכל מדינה החובה להגן על גבולותיה. ארגון הטרור חמאס מצהיר שבכוונתו להשמיד את ישראל ושולח אלפים לפרוץ את גדר הגבול כדי לממש מטרה זו. נמשיך לפעול בנחישות כדי להגן על ריבונותנו ואזרחינו |
| What a great day for the great American-Israeli alliance 🇮🇱🇺🇸צילום: אבי אוחיון, לע״מ pic.twitter.com/Q2rUdD3ID5 | What a great day for the great American-Israeli alliance 🇮🇱🇺🇸צילום: אבי אוחיון, לע״מ pic.twitter.com/Q2rUdD3ID5 |
| US president Donald Trump did not attend the dedication ceremony, but his daughter and her husband, Jared Kushner, traveled in his place. | US president Donald Trump did not attend the dedication ceremony, but his daughter and her husband, Jared Kushner, traveled in his place. |
| Today we dedicated the new #USEmbassyJerusalem, a longtime promise to the American & Israeli people. As Jared shared today “While many Presidents before him have backed down from their pledge... this President delivered. Because when President Trump makes a promise, he keeps it.” pic.twitter.com/4iNdozAiRF | Today we dedicated the new #USEmbassyJerusalem, a longtime promise to the American & Israeli people. As Jared shared today “While many Presidents before him have backed down from their pledge... this President delivered. Because when President Trump makes a promise, he keeps it.” pic.twitter.com/4iNdozAiRF |
| Gaza City has seen three wars with Israel in 10 years, and everyone expects another will come. | Gaza City has seen three wars with Israel in 10 years, and everyone expects another will come. |
| The Guardian last month looked at the huge obstacles Gaza faces in making preparations for conflict, including factional tensions and a punitive blockade have caused debilitating shortages in fuel, electricity and medical supplies. | The Guardian last month looked at the huge obstacles Gaza faces in making preparations for conflict, including factional tensions and a punitive blockade have caused debilitating shortages in fuel, electricity and medical supplies. |
| Reporters say demonstrations are coming to an end in Gaza, where it is nearly 7:30pm. | Reporters say demonstrations are coming to an end in Gaza, where it is nearly 7:30pm. |
| Demonstrations empty out as people are told to go home over loudspeakers. 52 Palestinians killed according to health ministry. pic.twitter.com/r7Q4fpj9uf | Demonstrations empty out as people are told to go home over loudspeakers. 52 Palestinians killed according to health ministry. pic.twitter.com/r7Q4fpj9uf |
| Protests now quiet ending for the day - Organisers called people back. New protests expected tomorrow | Protests now quiet ending for the day - Organisers called people back. New protests expected tomorrow |
| The Associated Press is reporting that Gaza’s health officials have increased the death toll to 52 and more than 1,200 have been wounded by Israeli fire in Gaza. | The Associated Press is reporting that Gaza’s health officials have increased the death toll to 52 and more than 1,200 have been wounded by Israeli fire in Gaza. |
| UK prime minister Theresa May’s spokesperson said: “We are concerned by the reports of violence and loss of life in Gaza. We urge calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts. The UK remains firmly committed to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital.” | UK prime minister Theresa May’s spokesperson said: “We are concerned by the reports of violence and loss of life in Gaza. We urge calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts. The UK remains firmly committed to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital.” |
| And Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the killing of Palestinians in Gaza today, said: | And Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the killing of Palestinians in Gaza today, said: |
| We condemn unreservedly the Israeli government for their brutal, lethal and utterly unjustified actions on the Gaza border, and our thoughts are with all those Palestinians in Gaza whose loved ones have been killed or injured as a result. | We condemn unreservedly the Israeli government for their brutal, lethal and utterly unjustified actions on the Gaza border, and our thoughts are with all those Palestinians in Gaza whose loved ones have been killed or injured as a result. |
| These actions are made all the worse because they come not as the result of a disproportionate over-reaction to one day’s protests, but as the culmination of six weeks of an apparently systemic and deliberate policy of killing and maiming unarmed protestors and bystanders who pose no threat to the forces at the Gaza border, many of them shot in the back, many of them shot hundreds of metres from the border, and many of them children. | These actions are made all the worse because they come not as the result of a disproportionate over-reaction to one day’s protests, but as the culmination of six weeks of an apparently systemic and deliberate policy of killing and maiming unarmed protestors and bystanders who pose no threat to the forces at the Gaza border, many of them shot in the back, many of them shot hundreds of metres from the border, and many of them children. |
| US secretary of state Mike Pompeo ignored the deadly protests happening in response to the US’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, while declaring the US was committed to advancing peace between Israel and Palestine. | US secretary of state Mike Pompeo ignored the deadly protests happening in response to the US’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, while declaring the US was committed to advancing peace between Israel and Palestine. |
| Pompeo, whose first trip overseas as secretary of state was to Israel, said in a statement: | Pompeo, whose first trip overseas as secretary of state was to Israel, said in a statement: |
| Today I am proud to celebrate the opening of the United States Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. This significant event fulfills a promise made by President Trump. As he proclaimed on December 6, 2017, ‘Seventy years ago, the United States, under President Truman, recognized the State of Israel. Since then, the State of Israel has made its capital in Jerusalem — the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times. It is therefore appropriate for the United States to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.’ | Today I am proud to celebrate the opening of the United States Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. This significant event fulfills a promise made by President Trump. As he proclaimed on December 6, 2017, ‘Seventy years ago, the United States, under President Truman, recognized the State of Israel. Since then, the State of Israel has made its capital in Jerusalem — the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times. It is therefore appropriate for the United States to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.’ |
| We remain committed to advancing a lasting and comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians. | We remain committed to advancing a lasting and comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| Foreign ministries in the UK, France and Egypt have expressed concern about the the violence, which has seen at least 41 people killed. | Foreign ministries in the UK, France and Egypt have expressed concern about the the violence, which has seen at least 41 people killed. |
| The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, said Israel must stop firing on protestors. | The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, said Israel must stop firing on protestors. |
| “Shocking killing of dozens, injury of hundreds by Israeli live fire in #Gaza must stop now. The right to life must be respected. Those responsible for outrageous human rights violations must be held to account. The int'l community needs to ensure justice for victims” – #Zeid. pic.twitter.com/hBb7825Sp8 | “Shocking killing of dozens, injury of hundreds by Israeli live fire in #Gaza must stop now. The right to life must be respected. Those responsible for outrageous human rights violations must be held to account. The int'l community needs to ensure justice for victims” – #Zeid. pic.twitter.com/hBb7825Sp8 |
| The Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, Oliver Holmes, has more details from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, Lt Col Jonathan Conricus: | The Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, Oliver Holmes, has more details from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, Lt Col Jonathan Conricus: |
| “As of now, no one has crossed the fence,” he said, adding there had been “several” attempts. | “As of now, no one has crossed the fence,” he said, adding there had been “several” attempts. |
| He said one Israeli soldier had been “slightly wounded by shrapnel” but he did not have details. “Our troops have not taken any sustained direct fire,” he added. | He said one Israeli soldier had been “slightly wounded by shrapnel” but he did not have details. “Our troops have not taken any sustained direct fire,” he added. |