Turkey accuses Israel of genocide as Kuwait calls for UNSC meeting over Palestine killings
Iran Press TV
Mon May 14, 2018 09:00PM
Kuwait has called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting after over 50 Palestinian demonstrators were killed in clashes with Israeli forces.
On Monday, Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinians who have gathered near a Gaza fence for the climax of a six-week demonstration coinciding with the inauguration of US embassy in Jerusalem al-Quds.
Clashes erupted along the fence between Palestinians and Israeli forces as protesters converged on the site for a "day of rage." According to Gaza health officials, 55 Palestinians have been shot dead and hundreds have been wounded by Israeli snipers who were positioned along the fence, facing the protesters.
"We condemned what has happened," Kuwaiti ambassador to the United Nations, Mansour al-Otaibi, said on Monday.
According to the diplomat, the meeting is set to begin at 1400 GMT.
Erdogan accuses Israel of genocide
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the Tel Aviv regime of "state terror" and "genocide."
"Israel is wreaking state terror. Israel is a terror state," Erdogan addressed Turkish students in London via a televised speech. "What Israel has done is a genocide. I condemn this humanitarian drama, the genocide, from whichever side it comes, Israel or America," he added.
Turkey has also called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to be held on Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag also announced that Ankara was recalling its ambassadors to the United States and Israel "for consultations" following the killings.
South Africa recalls ambassador to Israel
South Africa also recalled its ambassador to Israel in protest to the recent bloodshed.
"Given the indiscriminate and grave manner of the latest Israeli attack, the South African government has taken a decision to recall Ambassador Sisa Ngombane with immediate effect until further notice," said South Africa's Foreign Ministry in a statement.
It added that victims were taking part in a "peaceful protest against the provocative inauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem" and went on to slam "the latest act of violent aggression carried out by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border."
The statement added that South Africa calls for Israeli forces to pull out of the Gaza Strip and end its "violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories."
US established American outpost settlement in al-Quds
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the US had established an "American outpost settlement in East Jerusalem" by opening its embassy.
"We hear that they opened an embassy (which is an outpost settlement and not an embassy. An American outpost settlement. At first we had outpost settlements with the help of America and now we have an American outpost settlement in East Jerusalem," he said.
While referring to the Palestinian deaths as a "massacre" he announced three days of mourning and a general strike to be held on Tuesday.
"We decided to have the flags lowered tomorrow to half mast for three days of mourning (for the people who were killed at Gaza's protests) and to have a strike tomorrow for the Nakba day. Tomorrow will be the anniversary of 70 years of the Nakba of the Palestinian people when they were forced out of their country by the Zionist gangs in 1948," he added.
Saudi censures killings, doesn't mention embassy move
Saudi Arabia condemned the demonstrators' killing without referring to the controversial inauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem.
"Saudi Arabia strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces' gunfire against unarmed Palestinian civilians which has left dozens dead and wounded," said a Saudi Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
He further called on the international community to "take responsibility and put an end to the violence against the Palestinians", while stressing Riyadh's support for the "rights of the Palestinian people."
Qatar slams Israel's 'savage' actions
Qatari Foreign ministry spokeswoman Lulwah al-Khater strongly condemned "the massacre" of Palestinians.
Khater further called on the international community to take action and stop "the savage killings."
Syria decries 'brutal massacre'
"Syria condemns... the brutal massacre carried out by the Israeli occupation against unarmed Palestinian civilians," said Syrian Foreign Ministry official.
The official also condemned the "criminal and illegitimate" relocation of the US mission to Jerusalem al-Quds.
He also said the administration of US President Donald Trump bore "responsibility for the blood of Palestinian martyrs."
Protesters in across the globe of have gathered to express their solidarity with Palestinians following the relocation of the US embassy.
The United States officially opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem al-Quds on Monday, despite warnings from around the world that the measure risks triggering a fresh wave of violence in the Middle East.
In a speech at the White House in December 2017, the US president officially declared the disputed city of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's capital.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
