Palestinians protest against Trump's al-Quds move

Rasa - Hundreds of Palestinians have held a fresh rally in the besieged Gaza Strip to express their protest against US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

News ID: 436575

Date: 24 February 2018 - 08:21

RNA - The demonstration was held in Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip after protesters took to the streets following the Friday prayers and chanted slogans.

Similar protests in the West Bank turned violent after Israeli regime forces attacked Palestinians across the occupied territories. According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, at least 60 Palestinians were injured during the clashes with Israeli forces.

Tensions have risen in the Palestinian territories since the US president announced Washington’s new policy on al-Quds last December.

Trump on December 6 defied global warnings and said Washington formally recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of Israel and would begin the process of moving its embassy to the occupied city, breaking with decades of American policy.

His decision infuriated the Palestinians, who declared that Washington could no longer play a role as lead mediator in the Middle East peace process.

The move sparked outrage across the Muslim world, where it was seen as the United States is taking Israel's side on the most contentious issue of the decades-old conflict.

The United Nations General Assembly on December 21 overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the US to withdraw its controversial recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli capital.

The 193-nation assembly adopted the resolution by a decisive vote of 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions.

Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds during the Six-Day War in 1967. In a move not recognized by the international community, the regime later annexed East Jerusalem al-Quds, which is sought by Palestinians as the capital of their future state.

Palestinians want the resolution of the conflict with Tel Aviv based on the so-called two-state solution along the pre-1967 boundaries.

Several rounds of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians have collapsed mainly due to Israel’s refusal to end the occupation and its continued settlement expansion on occupied lands.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said in January that the US president's so-called Middle East peace efforts are the "slap of the century" after Trump's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's capital.

"The deal of the century is the slap of the century and we will not accept it," said Abbas referring to Trump's vow to reach the "ultimate deal."

The Palestinian envoy to Washington also said late last month that President Trump “backstabbed” Palestine by his recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds and accused the American head of state of breaking his promise to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Speaking at the Middle East Institute in Washington, Husam Zomlot said that Trump’s December declaration took everyone by surprise and killed the hope he had created by pledging to be a “fair mediator” who would help the two sides strike “the ultimate deal.”

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