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| UN Security Council holds emergency meeting over deadly Israel-Palestine border clash | UN Security Council holds emergency meeting over deadly Israel-Palestine border clash |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An emergency meeting is being held by the UN Security Council after some Muslim states and the Arab League decried what they view as Israel's brutal crackdown on protesters in Gaza, which led to the deaths of at least 15 people. | An emergency meeting is being held by the UN Security Council after some Muslim states and the Arab League decried what they view as Israel's brutal crackdown on protesters in Gaza, which led to the deaths of at least 15 people. |
| The meeting was called by Kuwait, which, along with Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and other countries with predominantly Muslim population, voiced their anger over the way the Israeli army retaliated against mass unrest that erupted along the border with Gaza Strip on Friday. | The meeting was called by Kuwait, which, along with Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and other countries with predominantly Muslim population, voiced their anger over the way the Israeli army retaliated against mass unrest that erupted along the border with Gaza Strip on Friday. |
| The meeting was set to kick off at 6:30 pm local time [10:30 pm GMT]. It was initially reported that the meeting would proceed behind closed doors, meaning that neither Israeli nor Palestinian representatives would be able to partake in the discussion. However, the session was ultimately held in the open. | |
| Israeli troops used live fire, rubber-coated bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesting Palestinian crowds that flocked to the border fence in their hundreds. At least two men, who Israel claims were "terrorist infiltrators," were killed by tank fire. | Israeli troops used live fire, rubber-coated bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesting Palestinian crowds that flocked to the border fence in their hundreds. At least two men, who Israel claims were "terrorist infiltrators," were killed by tank fire. |
| The UN has urged Tel Aviv to promptly conduct investigations into the killings of protesters, calling on it to abide by international human rights norms and humanitarian law when dealing with dissent. | The UN has urged Tel Aviv to promptly conduct investigations into the killings of protesters, calling on it to abide by international human rights norms and humanitarian law when dealing with dissent. |
| "Lethal force should only be used as a last resort with any resulting fatalities properly investigated by the authorities," UN deputy political affairs chief Taye-Brook Zerihoun said, as cited by Reuters. | "Lethal force should only be used as a last resort with any resulting fatalities properly investigated by the authorities," UN deputy political affairs chief Taye-Brook Zerihoun said, as cited by Reuters. |
| Speaking at the meeting, Russia’s deputy envoy to the UN offered Moscow’s help in arranging talks between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | |
| "We confirm our readiness to offer a Russian platform for a meeting of Israeli and Palestinians leaders," Vladimir Safronkov said, noting the need to hold direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis on all pressing issues, including the status of Jerusalem. | |
| The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) cracked down hard on the crowds amassing in the area, using drones to dispense tear gas at protesters. Over 100 snipers were on standby, authorized to use live ammunition in case someone ventured to cross into Israeli-occupied territories. | |
| Some 1,416 people were injured in the altercation and at least 16 were killed, according to figures provided by the Gaza Health Ministry. Roughly half of the injuries were inflicted by live fire, the ministry said, while many protesters were also targeted by tear gas and rubber bullets. | |
| The planned six-week-long ‘Great Return’ protests, calling for the right for Palestinian refugees to return to the territories now occupied by Israel, are expected to reach their climax on May 15, with a march to break through the heavily guarded border, according to Hamas. | |
| MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW | MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW |