At least 58 people have been killed during clashes Monday along the border fence between Israel and Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
This is the biggest number of fatalities suffered in one day since the latest round of demonstrations began more than six weeks ago. More than 100 people have been killed in the demonstrations since March 30, according to a CNN count, based on Ministry of Health figures.
The Ministry of Health said more than 2,700 people suffered injuries during Monday’s clashes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded security consultations with the Defense Minister, Public Security Minister, IDF Chief of Staff, and others on Monday night, ahead of more expected protests.
In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu noted that “the determined action of the IDF and the security forces prevented a breach into Israel’s borders."
More widespread protests are expected on Tuesday, when Palestinians mark Nakba Day, during which they mourn what they consider the “catastrophe” of the creation of the State of Israel 70 years ago.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its “strong condemnation” of the use of force by Israel against Palestinians, the state-run official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Turkey’s government is recalling their ambassadors to Washington, DC and Tel Aviv, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Anadolu reported on Twitter that Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag Bozdag said, “Turkey has recalled ambassadors in Tel Aviv and Washington for consultations.”
“Turkish Foreign Ministry to call for UN General Assembly meeting," Bozdag added, according to Anadolu’s Twitter.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while speaking in London, is quoted by Anadolu, saying “Israel is a terrorist state” and “what Israel is doing is a genocide.”
The ambassador was “recalled for consultations."
Jordan's Queen Rania just tweeted a strongly worded reaction to the violence at the Gaza border today.
Nickolay Mladenov, special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, is expected to brief the United Nations Security Council during its meeting on the situation in the Middle East and Gaza Tuesday morning, the UK Ambassador Karen Pierce told reporters.
"The casualty list is now over 50 with more, possibly up to a thousand injured. Obviously one calls for restraint on all sides. This is not what we want to see on the ground."
She urged anyone with influence on the ground "to calm the situation down and stop people getting killed.”
She declined to comment on whether or not there should be an inquiry into the death and injuries, saying that she knew “very little of the facts at the moment,” but reiterated that such an issue would come up in Tuesday’s Security Council meeting.
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley did not speak to the press on her way into Security Council chambers to attend an unrelated meeting.
Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for an end to the violent clashes today in Gaza that resulted in the death of more than 50 people.