Turkish PM strongly condemns Israel over violence

By Sarp Ozer and Ozcan Yildirim

ANKARA

The Turkish prime minister on Monday strongly condemned the Israeli violence against Palestinian protesters in the day the U.S. embassy relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

At least 52 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred Monday -- and hundreds more injured -- by Israeli army forces deployed along the other side of the border, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

“This is a cowardly massacre and we strongly condemn it,” Binali Yildirim told reporters at Esenboga Airport in the Turkish capital.

Yildirim said there were around 2,000 injured.

“International law has been so to speak ignored and [...] the decision to move the embassy has been stubbornly carried out,” Yildirim said.

“As Turkey, we condemn one more time this decision and declare it null and void,” he added.

“As Turkey, we stand together with our brothers until Palestine gains its freedom,” Yildirim added.

Trump sparked international outcry last December when he unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and vowed to relocate Washington's embassy to the city.

The embassy relocation coincides with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment in 1948 -- an event Palestinians refer to as the “Nakba” or the “The Catastrophe”.

Thousands of Palestinians have gathered on Gaza Strip’s eastern border since early Monday morning to take part in protests aimed to commemorate the Nakba anniversary and protest relocating the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

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