U.S., Israel celebrate embassy move amid deadly protests in Gaza

The United States celebrated the opening of its new embassy in Jerusalem with a ceremony attended by Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, and four U.S. senators. Israel has long claimed Jerusalem as its indivisible capital, while Palestine has argued East Jerusalem will serve as its future capital. Mnuchin said it’s a “national security priority” for the United States to relocate the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the “bold decision.” President Donald Trump tweeted Monday: “A great day for Israel!” Meanwhile, at least 41 Palestinians have died—and the death toll is rising— from Israeli gunfire near the Gaza border during protests Monday. Demonstrators burned tires along the border, and the Israeli military said some assaulted the border fence. Israel earlier said it would take any measure to prevent a border breach. More than 35,000 protesters are taking part in the demonstrations at different points along the border. In the West Bank, thousands gathered in the center of the city of Ramallah, while hundreds of others marched to the crossing on Jerusalem’s outskirts. The protesters oppose both the U.S. Embassy’s relocation and a decade-old blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt on Palestinian territory. Monday’s demonstrations and the U.S. Embassy ceremony coincide with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Israel as an independent nation.