The Trump administration officially opened a new US Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, fulfilling a campaign promise made in late 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Washington’s move has triggered a strong backlash from Arab allies as well as Palestinians who want to establish their capital in eastern Jerusalem.

Bloody clashes in the Gaza strip

Mass protests against the new US Embassy quickly turned deadly. May 14 turned into the bloodiest day of the Palestine-Israel dispute since the Gaza battle of 2014. At least 55 Palestinians were killed, including 6 children under 18 years old, and more than 2,000 people were injured.

Protests against the US and Israel and the “Great March of Return” have now claimed the lives of 100 Palestinians.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced 3 days of national mourning for Monday’s victims. He said Palestinians will not stop fighting until an independent Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital. He called on the international community to act promptly to stop the “massacre” of innocent people.

Many countries oppose the US’s Embassy relocation. Several countries who have diplomatic relations with Israel refused to attend the US’s Embassy opening ceremony in Jerusalem and the 70^th anniversary of Israel’s National Day. Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erakat said the US action buries the peace process and the two-state solution and will push regional countries to more violence and chaos. The Hamas Movement and armed forces in the Gaza strip said they have no patience with this crime. Jerusalem is holy land and the US’s Embassy and recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is an attack on Palestinian civil rights. The Arab league also denounced the US, saying it’s shameful to occupy Jerusalem and a violation of international law and UN resolutions. The Arab League will convene an emergency meeting on Wednesday at the request of Palestine.

Peace in the Middle East now out of reach

Jerusalem has always been a hot spot in the Middle East. The international community’s efforts have failed to find a peaceful solution. Israel occupied east Jerusalem in 1967 and soon annexed it to the western section and declared Jerusalem Israel’s indivisible capital. The international community has not recognized Israel’s sovereignty over east Jerusalem and also Palestinians claim west Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

Israel is backed by the US, while Palestine has Arab and Muslim support. Most countries worldwide support the peaceful solution of two-state co-existence. 86 countries, including the US, until today, have embassies in Tel Aviv.