RAMALLAH, May, 15, 2018 (WAFA) - The government held Israel and the US administration responsibility for the loss of lives that took place in the Gaza Strip on Monday during protests against the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. 

In the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, it condemned the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, and affirmed full support for the decisions issued by the Palestinian leadership meeting.

The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, condemned the brutal massacre carried by the Israeli occupation forces against the defenseless Palestinian demonstrates at the peaceful marches in the Gaza Strip, which led to the injury of 2,700 by live ammunition.

It affirmed its full support for the decisions issued by the urgent meeting of the Palestinian leadership headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, namely the signing of the number of International agencies treaties the State of Palestine is planning to join.

The cabinet called for the immediate signing of the "illegal settlement" case file to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and called the Security Council for an urgent session to address a resolution regarding the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people, and to provide immediate international protection.

It also called the UN Human Rights Council to organize an urgent convention to address the sending of an international mission to investigate the crimes committed by Israeli armed forces against the Palestinians, as well as to hold a meeting by the Arab League Council at the level of delegates to issue binding resolutions.

In the same context, the cabinet strongly condemned the positions of Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria for the participation in the opening ceremony of the US embassy, which comes against the European Union‘s official position and policies that consider the US move as a violation of international law.

On the other hand, the Cabinet valued the position of the European Union‘s High Representative for Security and Foreign Affairs Policy, Federica Mugherini, which stated that "it would not allow any European country to leave the European consensus regarding Jerusalem”, stressing the importance of the commitment of all States to United Nations resolutions and international law regarding the status of city of Jerusalem.

The Cabinet also highly praised the decisions of the governments of South Africa, Turkey and Ireland to withdraw their ambassadors from Israel in protest against the massacres committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

To conclude, the cabinet called upon the international community to commit to its historical responsibility towards the Palestinian people and implement all United Nations resolutions regarding the establishment of the independent State of Palestine along the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital in addition to the refugees right to return based on UN resolution (194) and the provision of international protection.

M.H.