Mourners carry the body of Yazen Tobasi, who was killed during clashes along the Gaza border the previous day, at the funeral in Gaza City, on May 15, 2018. On Monday, Israeli forces shot dead dozens of Palestinians and injured more than 2,000 others in a day-long confrontation along the Gaza strip-Israel border. (Xinhua)
ADDIS ABABA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a statement on Tuesday morning condemning "disproportionate" use of force by the Israeli army on Palestinians.
On Monday, Israeli forces shot dead dozens of Palestinians and injured more than 2,000 others in a day-long confrontation along the Gaza strip-Israel border.
Palestinians said the march on Monday aimed to protest both the U.S. embassy opening in Jerusalem and Palestinians' rights of return to their occupied lands.
The U.S. embassy opening ceremony in Jerusalem on Monday came in line with U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordering the moving of his country's embassy to the holy city last December.
Palestinians and Israelis bitterly contest the status of Jerusalem, with Palestinians saying they want East Jerusalem, as the capital of their future nation state.
"The Chairperson of the AU Commission stresses that the relocation of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem can only further heighten tensions in the region and complicate the search for a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as illustrated by Monday's incidents" said the AU commission statement.
"The AU affirms solidarity with the Palestinian people in their legitimate quest for an independent and sovereign State with East Jerusalem as its capital," the statement further said.
"AU calls for renewed and genuine international efforts to find a just and lasting solution to the conflict, based on the existence of two States, Israel and Palestine, within the framework of the relevant United Nations pronouncement," the statement from AU commission concluded.
