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maltatoday SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2018 News UN urges restraint after Palestinian protest on Gaza border turns deadly THE United Nations on Satur- day urged an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of more than a dozen Pal- estinians that took place on Fri- day, the first day of six weeks of protests in Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for "those con- cerned to refrain from any act that could lead to further casual- ties," in a statement through his spokesman Farhan Haq. The UN Security Council has called a closed emergency meet- ing at the request of Kuwait to discuss the deadly clashes in Gaza. The organization's announce- ment came as protests carried over into a second day. The gath- erings were smaller and quieter than those on Friday, but Gaza health officials said at least 10 Palestinians were wounded. At least 15 Palestinians were killed on Friday: Two of them by Israeli tank fire, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The same source said 400 people were wounded by live Israeli gunfire and others were struck by rubber bullets or treated for the effects of tear gas. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared a day of national mourning on Saturday as thou- sands of Palestinians gathered on Saturday for the funerals of some those killed. He laid the blame fully on Israel. The violence broke out after tens of thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, gathered at five points along the fenced border of the blockaded territory. Protesters called for the return of tens of thousands of ref- ugees who were expelled or f led during the war around Israel's creation in 1948 Organizers had urged demon- strators to stay away from the border area, but as the day wore on, hundreds of young people moved closer to the frontier, from where the Israeli military kept watch. The Israeli military said Pales- tinians rolled burning tires and threw stones at the Israeli forces, who responded with live bullets, tear gas and fired at what they called the "main instigators." Witnesses said the Israeli mili- tary used a drone to drop tear gas over at least one location. Three sites in particular were targeted with tank fire and an airstrike af- ter the Israelis claimed there had been a shooting attack against their soldiers. No Israeli soldier was injured. Palestinians and Turkish au- thorities accused Israel of using disproportionate force. The UN Security Council, which met on Friday night in New York, heard fears about a possible escalation of the violence. "The risk of escalation is very real," the French representative said. "There is the possibility of a new conf lict in the Gaza Strip." The protest, which has the back- ing of Hamas, is expected to last more than six weeks, as US Presi- dent Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital becomes final when the US Embassy moves to Jerusalem. "The Great March of Return is a message to Trump," Ismail Hani- yeh, the chief of the Hamas politi- cal bureau, told the crowds. "There is no concession to Jeru- salem, no alternative to Palestine, and no solution but to return. This is the Palestinian people tak- ing the initiative and making the event for the sake of Palestine... for the sake of Jerusalem and the right of return," Haniyeh said. The protests began as Palestin- ians marked Land Day, commem- orating the killing of six unarmed Arab protesters in Israel in 1976. Dubbed "The Great March of Re- turn," organizers said the rallies would continue until May 15, when Palestinians commemo- rate the Nakba, or "catastrophe," where more than 700,000 Pales- tinians f led their homes or were expelled during the war that led to the creation of Israel in 1948. The date is one day after the n e w US Embassy in Jerusalem is ex- pected to be formally opened. According to the United Na- tions, about 1.3 million of Gaza's two million residents are refugees or the descendants of refugees, and the protest is calling for them to be allowed to return to land that has been taken by Israel. The violence broke out after tens of thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, gathered at five points along the fenced border of the blockaded territory. Protesters called for the return of tens of thousands of refugees who were expelled or fled during the war around Israel's creation in 1948