Israel/Palestinian Terr.: At least 86 people wounded in Gaza protests May 25 /update 6

Event

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops wounded at least 86 Palestinians along the Israel-Gaza border on Friday, May 25, in a continuation of a protest campaign launched March 30. Palestinian protesters reportedly attempted to damage the border barrier and roll burning tires and throw explosives at IDF personnel; in response, IDF troops fired tear gas and live ammunition at the demonstrators. Additional related demonstrations, clashes between protesters and IDF troops, and associated casualties are expected along the Israel-Gaza border in the coming weeks.

Context

Large-scale Palestinian demonstrations have recently taken place in the Gaza Strip along the Israel-Gaza border. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and thousands of others wounded in clashes with IDF personnel since the demonstrations began on March 30. Smaller related protests have taken place in the West Bank. The protest movement culminated on May 15, the day on which Palestinians annually commemorate the Nakba ("catastrophe"), the 1948 Palestinian exodus from the territory that became the State of Israel.

A spike in tensions and cross-border incidents has been observed in Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the wake of US President Donald Trump's December 2017 announcement that the US would officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a departure from the previous US and international position of neutrality on the status of the city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians, and would move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The new embassy was officially opened on May 14.

Advice

Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the high risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. Due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.