Gaza: Nakba day protests as Palestinians bury those killed in embassy unrest – live updates

16 May 2018

Photo extremely concerned about what may happen in Gaza later today

The UN human rights office, which is led by Zeid Raad Al Hussein, said it is extremely concerned about what may happen in Gaza later today.

Monday, June 4, 2018 - 5:39pm

17:39

The UN security council is discussing violence at the border between Gaza and Israel. Divisions among council members emerged shortly after a moment of silence was held for the at least 60 killed on Monday

The Associated Press reports:

Kuwait’s envoy, who requested the meeting, said that Israel was violating international law and that the council needs to offer protection unarmed Palestinians.

“The Palestinian people are looking to the United Nations and the Security Council to activate what this organization has taken upon itself in order to achieve the maintenance of international peace and security,” said Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi.

No joint statement or action followed a similar meeting after protests in March, and two UN diplomats said members couldn’t reach unanimous agreement Monday on issuing a proposed statement circulated by Kuwait. 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 Security Council resolution that called on them not to have embassies in contested Jerusalem.

Monday, June 4, 2018 - 5:32pm

17:32

Israel has ordered the Turkish consul in Jerusalem, which manages Turkey’s relations with Palestine, to leave indefinitely, according to reports.

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Monday, June 4, 2018 - 2:07am

2:07

AFP has more on the concerns of the UN’s human rights office:

It said it seemed that any Palestinian protesting in Gaza, regardless of whether they pose an imminent threat, is “liable” to be killed by Israeli forces.

“The mere fact of approaching a fence is not a lethal, life-threatening act, so that does not warrant being shot,” rights office spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva.

“It seems that anyone is liable to be shot dead,” he added, stressing that international laws which apply to Israel make clear that “lethal force may only be used as a measure of last, not first, resort.”

“It is not acceptable to say that ‘this is Hamas and therefore this is OK’,” Colville added, in an apparent dismissal of Israel’s justification for the high casualty levels among Palestinians in clashes along the flashpoint border.

Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, of being behind the protests and says it is merely defending its territory.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 - 5:04pm

17:04

The funerals of some of those killed in Monday’s violence are getting underway

Palestinian mourners surround the body of Yazan al-Tubasi, killed during clashes in Gaza the previous day, during his funeral in Gaza City Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 - 4:56pm

16:56

South Africa confirmed it has withdrawn its ambassador to Israel following the attacks on protesters in Gaza

[Listen] The South African Government has withdrawn its ambassador to Israel after a deadly attack in the Gaza Strip in which more than 50 civilians were killed.