Palestinians in Gaza protest US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

World Today

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital destroys President Trump’s credibility as a Mideast peace broker. As Abbas is consulting with other Arab leaders to formulate a response, some Palestinians have called for ‘days of rage’ to protest the change.

CGTN’s Noor Harazeen reports from Gaza.

Follow Noor Hazazeen on Twitter @Noor_Harazeen

Hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip participated Wednesday in a mass rally. It was organized by Islamic Palestinian factions against the decision by Donald Trump to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognize the holy city as the capital of Israel.

“The Palestinian people and Palestinian political and national movements are protesting against Trump’s potential decision on Jerusalem,” Ismael Radwan, a Hamas leader said. “We say this decision is an aggression against our people, our nation, our holy places and our values. This is a serious challenge. We warn the U.S. administration against making this decision.”

During the rally, Palestinian officials have made it clear that the recognition and the embassy move would inflame tensions far and wide, and also undermine the U.S.’s role as an honest peace broker.

At the same time, Gazan protesters burned pictures of U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. flags, chanting against the United States of America and its president’s decision on Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a last-ditch effort, sent an urgent letter to the United Nations asking the U.N. Security Council to stop Trump from making the declaration.

“These deplorable and unacceptable measures deliberately undermine all peace efforts,” he said. “And proclaim that they [the U.S] are abandoning the role of sponsor of the peace process that they have played over the past decades.”