Wellington: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has criticised what she says is a “devastating, one-sided loss of life” on the Gaza border and called the opening of a United States embassy in Jerusalem a step backwards for peace.
Israeli troops shot dead at least 55 Palestinian protesters and injured 2700 others on the Gaza border as the US opened its new embassy 80 kilometres away, in the bloodiest day for Palestinians since the 2014 conflict.
Ardern on Tuesday said New Zealand officials had formally raised concerns with Israel’s ambassador.
“It is the right of any nation to defend their border, but this is a devastating, one-sided loss of life,” Ardern said.
Read the report in The Sydney Morning Herald.