2 Palestinians killed as fatal protests erupt after US named Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Fatal protests have erupted in and across the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip with two Palestinians feared dead and hundred others injured over the decision by the US to recognise Jerusalem as the new capital of Israel.

Reports say a 30-year-old Palestinian man was killed by Israeli fire during protests in Gaza on Friday, while a 54-year-old man in Gaza later died from his gun wounds, Palestinian news agency WAFA said.

According to the Red Crescent, at least 767 injured persons in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip have been attended to so far since Friday.

However, protests in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, which began after noon prayers on Friday have been mostly peaceful according to Al Jazeera’s Harry Fawcett who was speaking in front of Damascus Gate in occupied East Jerusalem.

Read also: Muslims in Africa, Asia protest, condemn plan to name Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

“Occupied East Jerusalem has been relatively peaceful in the past two days since this announcement from Trump,” he said.

“Emotions are very high here, and it doesn’t take much to kick things off,” he added.

“The protests have largely been noisy and loud and occasionally Palestinian flags and banners [would be] unfurled at which Israeli security forces would move in and separate out some of those who they wanted to target.”

Protests have also been witnessed both in Africa and Asia with many condemning the move which has also drawn the ire of some world leaders.

According to reports, thousands of Tunisians protested in several cities on Thursday against the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the decision to move the U.S. Embassy there, with labour unions and other groups leading the way.

In Asia, several thousand protesters in Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia rallied on Friday to condemn the U.S. decision as authorities’ tightened security outside U.S. embassies in both countries.

 

 

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