Int’l community condemns Gaza violence

On the bloodiest single day for Palestinians since the Gaza conflict in 2014, Israeli troops shot dead 55 Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border on Monday as the United States opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem.

The international community has strongly condemned the violence. Turkey has called an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Kuwait sought meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to the continuing violence along the Gaza-Israel border.

Turkey

Turkey has called for an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the government spokesman said on Monday, after Israeli forces killed of dozens of protesters in Gaza.

Ankara wants the meeting of the 57-member-state body to be held on Friday, spokesman Bekir Bozdag said.

Turkey has been one of the most vocal critics of the US move and the violence in Gaza, with the government declaring three days of mourning for those killed.

President Tayyip Erdogan described the actions of the Israeli forces as a "genocide" and Israel as a "terrorist state".

"No matter from what side, whether from the United States or Israel, I curse this humanitarian plight, this genocide," he said.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the United States was an accomplice in a crime against humanity.

"Unfortunately, the US has arrogantly stood by the Israeli administration which kills civilians and has partnered in this crime against humanity," he told reporters in Ankara.

"This provocation will only worsen the problems in the region and cause a deeper mark in the Israeli-Palestinian relationship, and will make peace in the region more difficult," Yildirim added.

He said US President Donald Trump was attempting to distract attention from domestic problems by moving the embassy, "trying to hide the fire inside by setting fires outside".

Kuwait

Kuwait has requested a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to discuss continuing violence along the Gaza-Israel border, diplomats said on Monday.

Qatar

Qatar foreign ministry spokeswoman Lulwah al-Khater strongly condemned "the massacre" of Palestinians, reports AFP.

Cited by Qatar's official QNA news agency, Khater called on the international community to take action and stop "the savage killings".

France

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence against Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza in a statement released late on Monday and reiterated his opposition to the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Macron talked with Jordan's King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday and is planning to talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, the presidency said.

"(Macron) lamented the large number of Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza today and over the past few weeks," the French presidency said.

"He condemned the violence of Israeli armed forces against demonstrators."

Germany

The German government on Monday expressed sharp concern about reports that dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops in Gaza while taking part in mass protests, urging Israel to refrain from using live munitions except as a last resort.

"The right to peaceful protest must also apply in Gaza," a foreign ministry spokeswoman said in a statement.

"Israel has the right to defend itself and secure its (border) fence against violent intrusions, but the principle of proportionality applies."