At least 49 people were injured after Palestinian protestors clashed with Israeli security forces in the Gaza Strip and across the occupied West Bank, two days after United States President Donald Trump formally recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital, CNN reported. One person is in a critical condition.
Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the holy city as their capital. Trump’s controversial move sparked anger among Palestinians, hundreds of whom marched through Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah in a “day of rage” protests, Al Jazeera reported.
Israel deployed extra troops in the West Bank as Palestinian protestors set tyres on fire and pelted stones. Israeli troops fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live bullets, according to the BBC.
Larger demonstrations are expected on Friday, The Washington Post reported, as people leave mosques across the country after weekly prayers. Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has called for a new intifada, or uprising.
What Trump said
After formally recognising Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel, Trump called it “a long overdue step to advance the peace process”. He also said the US would start preparations to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city. In doing so, Trump broke with years of precedent on the sensitive subject.
While Israel called the decision “historic”, several countries, as well as the United Nations, the European Union and the Vatican, criticised the move.
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