The United Nations Security Council, in an emergency meeting on Tuesday, called for calm along the border of the Gaza Strip following Monday’s deadly clashes, in which dozens of Palestinians were killed, protesting United States recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the official opening of its embassy there.

“For the people of Gaza, yesterday was a day of tragedy,” said the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, briefing the Council.

According to reports, he said, at least 60 people - including six children - were killed and more than 1,300 were injured on Monday in the Palestinian enclave occupied by Israel, whose troops fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters assembling along the perimeter fence.

“Israel has a responsibility to calibrate its use of force, to not use lethal force, except as a last resort, under imminent threat of death or serious injury,” Mr. Mladenov said. “It must protect its borders from infiltration and terrorism, but it must do so proportionally.” 

“This cycle of violence in Gaza needs to end,” the UN official said, “for if it does not, it will explode and drag everyone in the region into another deadly confrontation.” “The international community must step in and prevent war,” he stressed.

During the ensuing debate, Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the UN, said that violence was widespread not just in Gaza but across the Middle East, and in defence of Israel said that “the double standard is all too common in this chamber, and working overtime today.”

She said that the Council should examine Iran’s role in recent attacks on Israeli positions in the Golan Heights, and missile launches by what she called Iranian proxy forces in Yemen into Saudi Arabia. Hamas terrorists, backed by Iran, have incited attacks against Israeli security forces and infrastructure, she added.

Ms. Haley argued that the US embassy move to Jerusalem reflected “the reality” that it has served as Israel’s capital since the founding of the State and it is the ancient capital of the Jewish people 

European members in the Council, however, unanimously called for a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians on the status of Jerusalem. - Read More

Security Council calls for calm following deadly Gaza clashes; diplomats debate US embassy move