The Wall Street Journal

Dozens of Palestinians, including children, killed in Gaza clashes as U.S. opens Jerusalem embassy

Reuters
Israeli military officials say it has information that Hamas is using the protests as a pretext to stage an attack into Israel. Earlier this morning Israel’s military dropped leaflets over Gaza warning residents not to approach the border.

JERUSALEM—Palestinians clashed on Monday with the Israeli military at the fence dividing the Gaza Strip and Israel, leaving reportedly dozens of protesters dead and scores injured over just the past few hours ahead of the U.S. opening of its embassy in Jerusalem.

Those killed with Israeli live fire included a 12- and a 14-year-old, according to Gaza’s ministry of health, who said scores more were injured. An Israeli military spokesman said the protests are larger and more violent than what they have seen in the last month and a half.

The protests come as an American delegation including President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, daughter Ivanka Trump and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin are to attend a ceremony later Monday at the new embassy site to unveil a plaque and open the embassy.

The Gaza protests are expected to reach their height on Tuesday, on what Palestinians call Nakba Day, or Day of the Catastrophe, marking the day after the anniversary of Israel’s founding on May 14, 1948.

At similar protests in recent weeks, Israel has said it fired on Palestinians because they attempted to breach the barrier between Gaza and Israel and threatened the lives of Israeli soldiers.

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