Israel Attacks Palestinian Protesters, Kills 2, Injures 45
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Two Palestinians were killed in renewed clashes with Israeli occupying forces, Gaza's Health Ministry said Friday, amid continued clashes in the occupied lands over US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Gaza Health Ministry Spokesperson Ashraf al-Kidra said a 24-year-old and a 29-year-old were killed by live fire in clashes along the border with the Israeli occupied lands. Another 45 Palestinians were wounded, Associated Press quoted him as saying.
Also, the Israeli military said thousands of Palestinians participated in the protest demonstrations along the Gaza border and across the West Bank "hurling firebombs and rocks and rolling burning tires" at Israeli forces. It said troops responded with tear gas and deployed live fire "selectively toward main instigators."
In Bethlehem on Friday, some Palestinian protesters held anti-Trump banners reading "Mr. Trump, it's not your land to decide to whom it belongs, Jerusalem is ours and it belongs to us," and "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine."
Palestinians have been clashing with Israeli troops since Trump's al-Quds (Jerusalem) announcement on Dec. 6. Ten Palestinians have been killed and dozens more wounded so far.
The fresh violence came a day after the UN General Assembly resolution denouncing Trump's decision.
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to denounce Trump's recognition of al-Quds as Israel's capital, largely ignoring Trump's threats to cut off aid to any country that went against him.
The nonbinding resolution declaring US action on Jerusalem "null and void" was approved 128-9 — a victory for the Palestinians.
Apart from the US and Israel, seven nations opposed the motion although 35 of the 193 UN member states abstained and 21 were absent from the vote.
Last Monday, the US vetoed a Security Council resolution backed by the 14 other council members calling on Trump to reverse his al-Quds Declaration.
Israel has occupied East Quds since the 1967 Middle East war. It annexed the area in 1980 and sees it as its exclusive domain. Under international law, the area is considered to be occupied territory.
