PALESTINE erupted yesterday into furious protests throughout Gaza and the West Bank as the US opened its embassy in Jerusalem. While the embassy opened, Israeli snipers opened fire killing over 50 Palestinians on the Gaza border, with Palestinian officials described the killing as a bloody massacre.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) had called for a Day of Rage across the world in opposition to the US move. By lunchtime 35,000 Palestinians had massed on the Gaza border. Towers of tyres were set alight, and the Gazans marched on the border fence carrying Palestinian flags shouting slogans against the opening of the embassy and demanding their rights to a Palestinian state and the right for all Palestinian refugees to return.
As the crowds of protesters advanced, Israeli snipers stationed on the other side of the border fence opened fire. Live ammunition hit Palestinians of all ages, including children, wounding over 2,000 and killing over 50. The Israeli forces fired volleys of tear gas bombs which exploded firing shrapnel all directions and spreading clouds of poisonous gas.
‘Today is the big day when we will cross the fence and tell Israel and the world we will not accept being occupied forever,’ a science teacher in Gaza, Ali vowed.
Several protesters cut the Israeli border fence and reportedly attempted to enter the other side, as Israeli military forces were heavily deployed alongside the borders, constantly opening fire. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that their teams treated over a thousand injuries, live ammunition wounds, tear-gas inhalation cases, shrapnel injuries and Palestinians hit with tear-gas bombs.
Meanwhile the Israeli airforce rained missiles down on Hamas positions, striking five bases in Gaza.
There were mass protests throughout the West Bank and in Jerusalem itself. There were fierce clashes at the Qualandia checkpoint. Riots broke out outside the US embassy in Jerusalem as angry Palestinians fought with Israeli military soldiers and police.
The Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Manuel Hassassian told News Line: ‘Today is dark day for peace and a dark day for the Palestinians. ‘On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the forced expulsion of the Palestinians and the destruction of their society, in what we name the Nakba, the US is moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in defiance of international law and UN resolutions.
‘The Palestinian Authority (PA) has severed ties with the Trump administration because of its unequivocal support for Israel. ‘The PA will have to face the new realities with resilience and pragmatism. Israel, celebrates its 70th birthday by shooting unarmed protesters on the Gaza border, over 40 were killed already today as I write this.
‘Israel began nationhood by massacring and terrorising the Palestinian people in an operation of ethnic cleansing which resulted in 750,000 Palestinians becoming refugees overnight.
‘Today at seventy, Israel continues to kill and terrorise. It has nothing to be proud of nor celebrate.’
Yesterday’s move has ignited the Palestinian movement into a nationwide uprising.
The Palestinian people will fight until the world recognises the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its eternal capital.
