Members of the Lumad and Moro’s group, Sandugp, lead a protest in front of the US Embassy in Manila on Thursday, May 17, 2018, condemning the killings of Palestinians in the Gaza strip. (Photo courtesy of Sandugo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Various multi-sectoral groups condemned the massacre of 58 protesting Palestinians by Israeli forces during the opening of a US embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, the deadliest day since the end of the 2014 Gaza conflict.
Reports claim that the Israel Defence Force opened fire to stop Hamas,an Islamist militant group that controls Gaza and that they killed “24 terrorists with documented terror groups”. However, the Palestinian authority demanded international intervention to stop the killings. Palestinians said majority of those killed are unarmed protesters including several children.
“A horrible reprise of the massacre of Palestinians by Israeli troops that happened 70 years ago,” Jerome Succor Alba co-chairperson of Sandugo–Movement of Moro and Indigenous People for Self-determination said.
“The US should be held accountable for backing the crimes committed by the Zionist government of Israel,instigating atrocities across Arab nations and in Mindanao.I have witnessed first-hand US’ cold blooded treatment of individuals and groups they deem as barriers to their imperialist expansion when I have been tortured and illegally detained for 28 hours at the San Francisco International Airport,” he added.
US President Donald Trump, in news reports, said that moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a “great day for Israel.”
Meanwhile, Kilusang Mayo Uno slammed “US arrogance” in trying to block the United Nations from investigating the massacre , which demonstrated its continuing determination to cover up the crimes perpetrated by the Israeli Zionist government using American funds, intelligence, and weapons.
The group said the massacre is the latest and most outrageous addition to the long list of crimes committed by the US and Israel against the Palestinian people, who have every right to hold a peaceful protest against the US embassy’s transfer from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“The Israeli government has embraced the move as recognition by the US of Israel’s claim to Jerusalem – an outright insult on the Palestinian people’s claim on the same territory,” the labor group added.
On the other hand, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list urged the Philippine government to condemn and protest these atrocious acts by the US and Israeli forces to unarmed protesting Palestinians. (davaotoday.com)
