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Palestinian Health Ministry Spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra reported that two men were killed "in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza after an Israeli strike targeted a motorcycle." The latest casualties add to the four Palestinians already killed, and roughly 1,100 wounded, as a result of Israeli air strikes and a security crackdown amid widespread protests against the U.S. government's decision to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in occupied Palestine.
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Worldwide Protests Against U.S. Moving Israeli Embassy to Jerusalem
The Israeli Army has escalated its military operations in the Gaza Strip following Hamas' declaration of a new "intifada" and resistance to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision, not only recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, something that was repeated by his predecessor, but relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel, for its part, announced a massive attack targeting Hamas positions in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Sputnik. Those injured in the attack were taken to hospitals in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Gaza City and Khan Younis to attend the funerals of two Palestinians killed in the Israeli airstrikes, according to Euro News. Hamas said that the deceased were active members of its group.
Israeli military officials claim that the deadly airstrikes were prompted by rocket fire coming out of Gaza, however, no deaths were reported in Israel. Witnesses to the airstrike told reporters that most of the injured were civilians who resided in buildings in the area.
On Friday, the Palestinian Red Cross had registered some 60 people who received treatment for gunshot wounds.
The international community has galvanized in protest after U.S. President Donald Trump, going one step further than his predecessor and other former presidents who claimed Jerusalem to be Israel's capital, announced plans to move the U.S. embassy to the city. However, Palestinians have long proclaimed Al Quds, Jerusalem's name in Arabic, to be their future state capital.
After Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 war with Syria, Egypt and Jordan, it claimed the entirety of the city as being “united.” However, Palestinians forewarned the Trump administration that moving their embassy to Jerusalem, apart from inflaming sentiments throughout the Muslim world, Christian communities and elsewhere would undermine their role as an honest peace-broker.
Also, the move would make the United States the only country in the world to have its embassy located in Jerusalem. Hence, the international community has galvanized to rebuke the decision.
While at least 10,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia to express their outrage, Colombians took to the streets of Bogota, some burning a U.S. flag, to protest the move.
Police clashed with demonstrators outside of the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. High-powered water cannons mounted atop military vehicles as well as tear gas were fired to disperse the crowd. Hezbollah is expected to lead a mass rally today.
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Hamas Calls for ‘Intifada’ Should US Deem Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital
French protesters also weighed in on the controversial decision, taking to the streets “au grand dam” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent visit to Paris and meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
“Once again,” said Olivia Zemor, president of Europalestine, the French government has “laid out the red carpet to the executioner of children, war criminal and violator of international laws who is not welcome in France.”
Iran's Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the Muslim world would stand united against the U.S. plot to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem and that “everyone is duty-bound to make endeavours” toward Palestine's “freedom and salvage.”
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