May 17, 2018

Abbas plots next move after Gaza violence

Khorri Atkinson

President of Palestine and Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The Palestinian government is undertaking a war crimes complaint against Israel at the International Criminal Court after more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops near the Gaza border this week, the AP reports.

The backdrop: This comes as the bloodshed on the Gaza border continues to rattle the international community and is weakening diplomatic relations between various Middle Eastern countries, Israel and the U.S.

What's happening, per the AP:

  • As Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas believes the U.S. has lost its credibility as a broker and neutral party in the conflict amid ongoing peace talks. The ICC's involvement would reportedly intensify tensions between Abbas and Israel.
  • Meanwhile, the Islamic militant group, Hamas, “has emerged without tangible achievements” after the deadly border clash. Hamas had organized some of the protests and plans to do so throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to add more pressure on Israel to lift the blockade.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is increasingly aligning himself with Trump which concerns many in the region as Trump continues to be unpopular among many Western world leaders.

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