ISLAMABAD – Israeli forces have separately shot dead twoPalestinian teenage boys in the central part of the besieged Gaza Strip andthe occupied West Bank during clashes in protest at US President DonaldTrump’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of Israel.Spokesman for the Gaza Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qidra, said in astatement on Thursday evening that 16-year-old Amir Abdelhamid Abu Mousaedsustained grave gunshot wounds in the chest near the border fence east ofal-Bureij camp.
The Palestinian teen succumbed to his wounds after he was taken to al-AqsaMartyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah city, located over 14 kilometers (8.7miles) south of Gaza City, the statement added.
Shortly afterward, Israeli troopers opened fire on a group of Palestinianprotesters in Burin village, located 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) southwestof Nablus in the occupied West Bank, killing 17-year-old Ali Omar Nimr Qino.
On December 6, Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Qudsas Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv tothe occupied city.
The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy vis-à-vis the city triggereddemonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran, Turkey,Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries.
On December 21, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted infavor of a resolution that called on the US to withdraw its controversialrecognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israeli “capital.”
In an attempt to prevent the resolution from being passed by UN members,Trump had warned that “we’re watching,” thus threatening reprisals againstcountries that would back the measure, which had earlier faced a US veto atthe UN Security Council.
Israel, however, rejected the world body’s resolution while thanking Trumpfor his decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.
Jerusalem al-Quds remains at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,with Palestinians hoping that the eastern part of the city would eventuallyserve as the capital of a future independent Palestinian state.
In a series of tweets on January 2, Trump said the US paid “thePalestinians hundreds of millions of dollars a year” and yet gets “noappreciation or respect.”
“But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should wemake any of these massive future payments to them?” he asked.
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the executive committee of the PalestineLiberation Organization, stated on Wednesday that “Palestinians’ rights arenot for sale.”
She added, “By recognizing occupied al-Quds as Israel’s capital, DonaldTrump has not only violated international law, but has also singlehandedlydestroyed the very foundations of peace and condoned Israel’s illegalannexation of the city.”
Ashrawi further said, “We will not be blackmailed. President Trump hassabotaged our search for peace, freedom and justice. Now he dares to blamethe Palestinians for the consequences of his own irresponsible action!”