Gaza tarnishes its bodies .. Washington is blocking a UN request for investigation

in #news7 years ago

On the anniversary of the Nakba, the Gaza Strip coincided with the opening of the American Embassy in Jerusalem in the presence of the daughter of US President Donald Trump and her husband, Jared Kouchner, in which 58 Palestinians were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded.

"Today will be the day of funerals and no plans for border crossings," said Khaled al-Batsh, head of the organizing committee of the protests.

Health officials in Gaza reported that the toll of Palestinian protesters killed on Monday rose to 58, including 57 killed by live Israeli fire, and one child died of inhaling tear gas.

The bloodiest days since the Gaza war 2014
On the bloodiest days of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the Gaza war in 2014, at least 55 Palestinians were killed in clashes and more than 2,400 wounded.

The clashes broke out before Israeli officials and a delegation from the White House officially opened the US Embassy in Jerusalem.

Among the dead were eight children under the age of 16, according to the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations.

Washington is blocking
In contrast, America has blocked an international call for an independent investigation into the bloody events in Palestine. Diplomats said the United States had blocked Monday a UN Security Council statement calling for an independent inquiry into the bloody violence on the border between Israel and Gaza that broke out as the new US embassy in Jerusalem opened.

"The Security Council expresses its anger and regret at the killing of Palestinian civilians exercising their right to peaceful protest," the draft statement said. "The Security Council calls for an independent and transparent investigation to ensure accountability" of the officials.

"The Security Council expresses its grave concern over recent developments in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the context of peaceful protests in the Gaza Strip and tragic civilian casualties," it said.

"The Security Council calls on all parties to exercise restraint in order to avoid further escalation and (with a view to) establishing calm," the draft said. "The Security Council calls upon all States not to take any steps that further aggravate the situation, including any unilateral and illegal measures that undermine the prospects for peace."

The draft also stated that any decisions and actions "that would change the character, status or demographic composition of the holy city of Jerusalem have no legal effect," referring to the United States' decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

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