UN Security Council set to discuss Gaza after a deadly day

AP  |  United Natons 

The met today to discuss violence along the border between and the Strip, beginning with a moment of silence for the more than 50 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the bloodiest day there since a 2014 war.

called for the session after more than 50 Palestinians were killed and over 1,200 wounded by Israeli gunfire amid mass protests Monday. said its troops were defending its border and accused militants of trying to attack under the cover of the protest.

It was not immediately clear what might come out of the council session. No joint statement or action followed a similar meeting after protests in March, and two U.N. diplomats said members couldn't reach unanimous agreement Monday on issuing a proposed statement circulated by The diplomats insisted on speaking anonymously because the discussions were supposed to be private.

The draft statement, obtained by The Associated Press, would have expressed "outrage and sorrow" at the killings, sought an "independent and transparent investigation," and called on all sides to exercise restraint.

It also would have demanded that all countries comply with a decades-old resolution that called on them not to have embassies in contested The inaugurated its embassy there yesterday.

The U.S. vetoed a resolution in December that would have required to rescind his declaration of as Israel's capital. Earlier Monday, the Palestinian U.N. urged the United Nations' most powerful body to condemn the killings. Israel, meanwhile, called on the council to condemn Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules the coastal strip and led the protests.

isn't a council member, nor are the Palestinians. Monday's violence came as the U.S. and Israel celebrated the embassy opening, the first official recognition of as Israel's capital after 70 years. The move infuriated Palestinians, who seek eastern Jerusalem as a future capital of their own. "A great day for Israel!" Trump tweeted.

"A tragic day for the Palestinians," retorted their U.N. ambassador, In remarks to reporters and a letter to the Security Council president, he called on the council to "make its voice heard to stop the carnage," bring those responsible to justice and protect civilians.

Israeli said the council needed to speak out against "Every casualty on the border is a victim of Hamas' war crimes, every death is a result of Hamas' terror activity, and these casualties are solely Hamas' responsibility," Danon said in a statement.

The demonstration Monday culminated a weeks-long Palestinian campaign against a blockade imposed by Israel and after seized control of in 2007. Protesters set tires ablaze, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air, and hurled firebombs and stones toward Israeli soldiers across the border.

The said Hamas tried to carry out bombing and shooting attacks under the cover of the protests and released video of protesters ripping away parts of the barbed-wire border fence.

UN issued a tweet Tuesday saying, "I am profoundly alarmed and concerned by the sharp escalation of violence and the number of Palestinians killed and injured in the protests. It is imperative that everyone shows the utmost restraint to avoid further loss of life.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, May 15 2018. 21:10 IST