Arab League calls for international probe against Israeli crimes in Gaza massacre

Arab League calls for international probe against Israeli crimes in Gaza massacre
Arab foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in Cairo on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza Strip after Monday's massacre of Palestinian protesters.
2 min read
17 May, 2018
Saudi Arabia called for an 'extraordinary meeting' following the deadly Gaza massacre [Getty]
The Arab League called on Thursday for an international probe into this week's Israeli "crimes" against the Palestinians, during deadly protests along the Gaza border.

"We call for a credible international investigation into the crimes committed by the occupation," said Ahmed Abul Gheit at the opening session of an extraordinary meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, regarding Monday's Gaza massacre.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered close to the Gaza border to protest against the US President Donald Trump's decision to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and recognise the contested city as Israel's capital.

"We are facing a state of blatant aggression against international law and legitimacy which was embodied by the US embassy's transfer in the occupying state to Jerusalem," said Abul Gheit.

The emergency meeting was called for by Saudi Arabia who preside the current session of the Arab Summit. 

"Our meeting today comes at a time of utmost importance as the US has moved its embassy to Jerusalem," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in the opening session of the meeting called by his country.

Israel has come under international pressure after its border forces on Monday killed some 60 Palestinians protesting against the transfer the same day of the US embassy to Jerusalem.

It was the deadliest day in the besieged territory since 2014 war.

Over 117 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since protest dubbed "Great Return March" began on 30 March calling for their right of return.

The opening of the US embassy in the contested city of Jerusalem comes at a time when Palestinians are commemorating  al-Nakba, or "the Catastrophe", when hundreds of thousands of were forced from their homes during the formation of Israel.