Netanyahu defends Gaza action, Abbas calls for protest

Jerusalem, May 15: After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military action that killed 55 Palestinians and wounded 2,700 as “self-defence”, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called for intensified protests on Tuesday, the media reported.

The violence on Monday coincided with the dedication ceremony of the US embassy. The transfer of the embassy from Tel Aviv had already incensed Palestinians, who claim eastern Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Netanyahu defended his military against Gaza’s Islamist rulers, Hamas, who he said wanted to destroy Israel, and said: “Every country has an obligation to defend its borders.

Following the deadliest day of violence since the 2014 Gaza war, Abbas called Palestinians to intensify their protests on Tuesday. Announcing three days of mourning, he said: “Today (Monday) once again, the massacres against our people continue.” IANS