Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 17 May 2018
Hamas says most slain Gaza protesters were its members

carrying out attacks.
Omar Shakir, the local di-
rector for Human Rights
Watch, said that if they
were unarmed, the identity
of the slain protesters and
their affiliation to a militant
group has little to do with
Israel's right under inter-
national law to use lethal
force at a demonstration.
"These individuals that were
killed, regardless of their
affiliation or membership,
were engaged in a dem-
onstration in which they
did not pose an immedi-
ate threat to life and were
gunned down, and that's
what's relevant," Shakir
said.
Israel says it uses live fire
only as a last resort. Snip-
ers are supposed to aim
at protesters' legs and can
shoot only with approval
from a commander.
Hamas' statement comes
at a moment when Israel
finds itself largely isolated
over its response to the
protests. Countries have
Demonstrators wave Palestinian flags as they stage a protest to condemn the Israeli fire along the Gaza Strip at Trocadero plaza in summoned and recalled
Paris, France, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. ambassadors, the U.N. has
issued condemnations and
JERUSALEM (AP) — Most being "from the people." marks, Bardawil later said der fence. Israeli snipers some have called for an
of the protesters killed this Bardawil did not elaborate in a statement that Israel opened fire in response, investigation of Israel's ac-
week by Israeli fire along on the nature of their mem- was "legitimizing the killing killing 59 Palestinians and tions. The Palestinians held
the border with the Gaza bership in the group and his of Palestinians just because wounding hundreds. a one-day general strike
Strip were members of claim could not be inde- they are Palestinians or just Images of the protesters and called for three days
Hamas, the militant group pendently verified. It was because they are Hamas, being whisked away in of mourning for the victims.
said Wednesday, an ad- unclear if the protesters he even if they were unarmed stretchers amid the tear gas The U.S. was among the
mission that deepens the was referring to were mili- and defending their dignity contrasted sharply Mon- few countries that came
starkly different narratives tants or civilian supporters and rights." day with jubilant scenes to Israel's defense, backing
on both sides over the of the Islamic group, which Organizers say the wave of the opening of the U.S. its right to protect its bor-
deaths. rules Gaza and opposes Is- of border protests is meant Embassy in Jerusalem by der on the same day that
Israel, which has faced blis- rael's existence. in large part to break a a high-powered American it countered international
tering international criticism The affiliation may mat- decade-old blockade im- delegation and Israeli lead- disapproval of moving its
over its response, is likely ter little to those who have posed by Israel and Egypt ers. Hardly a mention was embassy from Tel Aviv to
to latch on to the remarks deemed Israel's response and pressure Israel to ease made of the border vio- Jerusalem. The Palestinians,
to bolster its claims that to the protests to be heavy- its restrictions. Since the lence, only about an hour's who seek east Jerusalem
Hamas has used the week- handed. Hamas-led protests began drive away. as capital of their hoped-
ly border protests as cover For Israel, it was enough to March 30, more than 110 The Israeli army has for state and vehemently
to stage attacks. cement its narrative. Palestinians have been staunchly defended its ac- oppose the U.S. move, re-
But with the images of rifle- "It was clear to Israel and killed and more than 2,500 tions. It points to the violent called their ambassadors
toting Israeli snipers facing now it is clear to the whole wounded by live fire, ac- history of Hamas, says there to four European countries
off against seemingly un- world that there was no cording to the Palestinian have been shootings and that had supported it.
armed protesters beamed popular protest. This was an Health Ministry. Palestinian bombing attacks against On Wednesday, Guatema-
around the world, the re- organized mob of terror- officials say the vast major- its forces, and fears a mass la followed the U.S. lead,
marks by Hamas may do ists organized by Hamas," ity of the casualties have border breach. festively opening its new Je-
little to convince Israel's de- said Israeli Foreign Minis- been unarmed protesters. On Tuesday, the army re- rusalem mission with Gua-
tractors, including the Pal- try spokesman Emmanuel One Israeli soldier has been leased a video that ap- temalan President Jimmy
estinians. Nahshon. wounded. peared to show protesters Morales saying his country
In an interview with Balad- Prime Minister Benjamin The weekly protests peaked detonating several explo- was bringing a message of
na TV, a private Palestinian Netanyahu said Israel had on Monday when about sions near the border. It also "love, peace and fraternity"
news outlet that broad- tallied similar numbers to 40,000 Gazans descended said its forces had killed a to Israel. Paraguay said it
casts via Facebook, se- Hamas and "won't let those on the border area. As in squad of Hamas gunmen also will move its embassy
nior Hamas official Salah who call for our destruc- previous demonstrations, who opened fire at troops. to Jerusalem. Romania,
Bardawil said 50 out of the tion to breach our bor- the protesters burned tires Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, the Czech Republic and
nearly 60 protesters killed ders and to threaten our and hurled firebombs and a military spokesman, said Honduras have said they
Monday were Hamas communities." In response stones toward Israeli troops, 14 of those killed Monday are considering doing the
members, with the others to the uproar over his re- and tried to attack the bor- were actively involved in same.q