Dozens Killed and Hundreds Injured in Gaza Protests Concurrent with US Embassy Transfer

The transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Israel has led to widespread protests by Palestinians, with at least 55 confirmed dead and hundreds injured so far. Following Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6 of last year, the US set Monday, May 14, as the date for moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been protesting along the narrow borders with Israel since early Monday, with reports indicating at least 40,000 participants. Palestinian news and hospital sources report an increase in the number of casualties, with at least 55 Palestinians dead and over 2,000 injured. Concurrently, reports indicate that the Israeli army has attacked northern Gaza. Protests by Gazans began a month and a half ago, which had already resulted in 54 deaths and thousands of injuries prior to today's casualties. They have stated that they will continue these protests on Tuesday, known as 'Nakba Day,' and in the coming weeks. Palestinians consider May 25, the anniversary of Israel's establishment, as their 'Nakba Day.' The Israeli army warned Gaza residents on Monday that attempts to cross the border would be met with severe consequences. Colonel Ronen Manlis, spokesperson for the Israeli army, accused the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Qassem Soleimani, its commander, of being involved in the new crisis at the Gaza borders and financing recent protests. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman urged Gaza Palestinians to refrain from following the demands of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and to stay in their homes, stating that Israel is prepared to counter threats from Hamas, which seeks to disrupt the embassy transfer celebrations. Tensions also erupted in friction points in the West Bank between Palestinians and Israeli forces; Arab-majority areas in East Jerusalem witnessed strikes in many businesses on this day. Simultaneously, Arab citizens of Israel held protests that led to clashes with Jewish students at Tel Aviv University, where hundreds of Arab students study. The widespread protests by Palestinians occurred while preparations for the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem were at their peak. The US, while affirming and supporting Israel, emphasized that recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital is an acceptance of 'a historical fact' and that Washington's efforts for the peace process will continue. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the day 'historic,' stating that Jerusalem has been and will remain 'the eternal capital of the Jewish people,' and peace must be achieved based on this fact. Naftali Bennett, a senior Israeli government minister, also stated on Monday that 'the US has taken the first step, and we are waiting for similar steps from other countries.' Steven Mnuchin, US Treasury Secretary and a member of the US delegation to the embassy opening ceremony in Jerusalem, expressed his pride in witnessing the event. David Friedman, US ambassador to Israel, stated at one of the morning celebrations that 'this great event would not have happened without the courage and foresight of Donald Trump.' Jason Greenblatt, the US special representative for peace negotiations, tweeted that the embassy transfer to Jerusalem was 'a necessary step for peace,' emphasizing that this action does not signify a retreat from Washington's commitment to seeking peace. According to Palestinian Voice, Saeb Erekat, a former chief Palestinian negotiator, stated on Monday in Ramallah that the US action was 'the last nail in the coffin of the peace process.' The Palestinian Legislative Council also criticized what it termed 'the silence of the international community in the face of the violation of the rights of the Palestinian people' in a statement in Ramallah. Nevertheless, according to Reuters, the Arab League announced that it would hold an emergency meeting to discuss the 'illegal action' of the US on Wednesday, two days after the opening of the US embassy. Additionally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday that the US can no longer play a mediating role in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, asserting that East Jerusalem must be the capital of the Palestinian state. A spokesperson for the Japanese government also expressed concern on Monday in Tokyo that the US embassy transfer to Jerusalem could exacerbate tensions in the Middle East. Israeli media reported that representatives from 23 of the 28 EU member states boycotted the US embassy opening ceremony; the EU emphasizes a two-state solution based on the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital alongside Israel. In Iran, which has opposed Israel since the establishment of the Islamic Republic and stood alongside the Palestinians, many officials reacted negatively to the US embassy transfer. According to Iranian media, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated on Monday that 'the insecurity resulting from the reckless act of transferring the US embassy to Jerusalem lies with the Zionist regime and the US.' Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, stated on Monday that the US conspiracy 'will not go unanswered.' Larijani added at the head of an emergency meeting of the Permanent Committee on Palestine in the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tehran, 'Now we are here with this oppressed and resistant nation that needs our help more than ever; they have borne the costs of defending the Islamic community.' Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, also condemned the Israeli regime's action to make Jerusalem its center and the US embassy transfer. Naim Qassem, Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, stated on Monday in Beirut that the US embassy transfer to Jerusalem would have no effect on the struggles of the Palestinians and the resistance axis. Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of al-Qaeda, also emphasized in a statement on Monday that all of Palestine is Islamic land; both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are occupied by 'infidels.' According to AFP, al-Zawahiri accused the Palestinian Authority of selling out the Palestinian people.