United Nations calls on for ‘independent investigation’ after Israel-Gaza violence takes 16 lives injuring thousands of Palestinians

NewsBharati    31-Mar-2018
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Gaza Strip, March 31: ‘March of Return’ a peaceful protest carried out by thousands of Gazans on the Gaza Strip turned errant killing 16 Palestinians and injuring thousands of civilians. Deeply concerned with the violent clash, United Nations has called on for an independent investigation. 

Early Friday, thousands of Palestinians flocked to conduct the rally along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Also, Israeli Defense Forces were ready to foil any border infiltration attempts.

30th March marks "Land Day" commemorating the six Arab citizens of Israel who were killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations in 1976 over government land confiscations in northern Israel. It is due to end on May 15, the day Palestinians call the "Nakba" or "catastrophe," marking the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the conflict surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948.

Israeli forces opened up fire after two suspects approached the security fence. The Military Spokesman said Israeli troops had also fired towards two other men at another location along the Gaza border when they approached the fence trying to "interfere with security infrastructure" but he did not elaborate.

Amid rising tensions, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman wrote on Twitter warning the protestors “To residents of Gaza. Hamas leadership is playing with your lives. Anyone who approaches the fence today is putting himself in danger. I recommend that you continue to live your lives and not join in the provocation.”

The ardent protestors didn’t took the warning with good intentions and further clashes erupted as tens of thousands of Gazans marched near the Israeli border, leaving 16 Palestinians dead and hundreds more wounded in the conflict's worst single day of violence since the 2014 Gaza war.

Israeli security forces used a drone to fire tear gas toward those along the border, in one of the first uses of the device, a police spokesman said.

A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that the top UN diplomat is concerned that violence might escalate, and urged nations to avoid further casualties. "The Secretary-General calls for an independent and transparent investigation into these incidents," Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for Guterres, said in a statement.

"He also appeals to those concerned to refrain from any act that could lead to further casualties and in particular any measures that could place civilians in harm's way," he continued.

"Israel must uphold its responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law. Lethal force should only be used as a last resort with any resulting fatalities properly investigated by authorities," Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the UN deputy of political affairs, said.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of life today. We urge those involved to take steps to lower tensions and reduce the risk of new clashes. Bad actors who use protests as a cover to incite violence endanger innocent lives," US diplomat Walter Miller told the council.