ISTANBUL, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 2,000 people on Monday marched in Istanbul over the killings of at least 52 Palestinians by Israeli troops during mass demonstrations held in the Gaza Strip against the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.
The demonstrators flocked to the iconic Istiklal Avenue in central Istanbul, waving banners and chanting slogans including "Until Jerusalem will be free," "Jerusalem belongs to Islam," and "Down with America, down with Israel!"
On social media, many Turks also voiced their anger at the killings and urged the Islamic world to get united for a solution.
The U.S. new embassy in Jerusalem was inaugurated on Monday with a ceremony, sparking mass protests by Palestinians in Gaza Strip close to the Israeli border.
During the clashes, at least 52 Palestinian have been reportedly killed and more than 2,400 others injured.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement denouncing the U.S. move, saying it disregards the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
"We curse the massacre carried out by Israeli security forces encouraged by this step on the Palestinians participating in peaceful demonstrations," the statement said.
U.S. President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December last year, triggering an outcry in the Middle East and other parts of the world, as the status of the holy city is among the core issues to be negotiated between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
