Turkey and South Africa, two countries known for their hostile diplomatic line toward Israel, recalled their ambassadors to Israel Monday in the wake of deadly riots that erupted on the Israel-Gaza Strip border during the high-profile opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
The Palestinians reported 58 protesters were killed and 2,700 were wounded in the demonstrations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the actions of Israeli military amounted to a "massacre" and a "genocide," saying it was proof that Israel "is a terrorist state."
Erdogan also said Ankara has called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Turkey wants the meeting of the 57-member-state body to be held on Friday.
Turkey declared three days of mourning for those killed and, in protest of the U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem, recalled its ambassador to Washington, as well.
"No matter from what side, whether from the United States or Israel, I curse this humanitarian plight, this genocide. I apologize, but I also curse those who remain silent in the face of this [incident]," he said Monday.
"Israel is a terrorist state and the steps they are taking now prove that they are a terrorist state. Unfortunately, the United States is mercilessly cooperating with Israel just like it collaborated with PYD and YPG [Syrian Kurdish militias] as well as Daesh [Islamic State], whom it says it is fighting against. What Israel has done today is genocide, and it is not the first time Israel has carried out a genocide," Erdogan said.
A statement issued by the South African government said it "condemns in the strongest terms possible the latest act of violent aggression carried out by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border, which has led to the deaths of over 40 civilians. The victims were taking part in a peaceful protest against the provocative inauguration of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
"This latest attack has resulted in scores of other Palestinian citizens reported injured, and the wanton destruction of property. Given the indiscriminate and grave manner of the latest Israeli attack, the South African government has taken a decision to recall Ambassador Sisa Ngombane [from Israel] until further notice," the statement from the country's International Relations and Cooperation Department said.
"As we have stated on previous occasions, South Africa reiterates its view that the Israeli defense force must withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories. South Africa maintains further that the violence in the Gaza Strip will stand in the way of rebuilding Palestinian institutions and infrastructure.
"The routine actions of the Israeli armed forces present yet another obstacle to a permanent resolution to the conflict, which must come in the form of two states, Palestine and Israel, existing side-by-side and in peace.
"Like other members of the international community, South Africa is disturbed by the latest deadly aggression and reiterates calls made by several member states of the United Nations for an independent inquiry into the killings, with a view to holding to account those who are responsible," the statement concluded.
The bloodshed drew European calls for restraint on all sides.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence in Gaza and reiterated his opposition to the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
Macron spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday and his office said he plans to speak with Netanyahu on Tuesday.
"President Macron laments the large number of civilian Palestinian casualties in Gaza today [Monday] and over the past few weeks," his office said in a statement.
British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed concern over the violence on the Gaza border and also urged restraint.
"We are concerned by the reports of violence and loss of life in Gaza. We urge calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts. The U.K. remains firmly committed to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital," a statement by her office said.
The European Union called on both Israel and Hamas to show restraint in Gaza.
"We expect all parties to act with utmost restraint to avoid further loss of life. Israel must respect the right to peaceful protest and the principle of proportionality in the use of force. Hamas and those leading the demonstrations in Gaza must ensure that they remain strictly nonviolent and must not exploit them for other means," the EU said.
Germany echoed these concerns. A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said in a statement that "the right to peaceful protest must also apply in Gaza. Israel has the right to defend itself and secure its [border] fence against violent intrusions, but the principle of proportionality applies."
That meant that live munitions should only be used when other, weaker forms of deterrence had proven unsuccessful and specific threats were present, the spokeswoman added.
She said Berlin also called on the Palestinians to refrain from escalating the situation, engaging in violence or inciting others to do so.
The German government said it remained ready to carry out development and humanitarian support, but the situation in Gaza needed to calm down before urgently needed measures could be discussed.
"One important step on this path is that those who hold power in Gaza renounce violence and the Palestinian Authority once again takes control in Gaza," the spokeswoman said. "Everyone must now ensure that the situation does not escalate further."
The U.N. human rights office condemned Monday's "appalling deadly violence" by Israeli security forces in Gaza and called for an independent investigation.
U.N. Human Rights Council spokesman Rupert Colville said that Israel had a right to defend its borders according to international law, but lethal force must only be used a last resort and was not justified by Palestinians approaching the Gaza fence.
China also called on Israel to exercise restraint along its border with Gaza.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that China "opposes violent acts targeting innocent people" and urged all sides to avoid escalating tensions.
Lu said China believed in a two-state resolution and that the status of Jerusalem should be resolved through dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis in accordance with relevant U.N. resolutions.
Also on Monday, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour condemned "in the strongest term" the killing of Palestinian protesters in Gaza.
Mansour said that Israel "has abdicated its responsibility in providing protection," and that there was "no chance" for engaging in a U.S.-led peace process while violence continued and Israel celebrated the U.S. moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
"We condemn in the strongest term this atrocity by the Israeli occupying forces using this massive firepower against civilians who have the right to demonstrate peacefully and they have been demonstrating peacefully," he said.
"We demand that this action to be stopped immediately and we want those responsible to be brought to justice from the Israeli side because this is not allowed under the provisions of international law. And we further demand international protection for the civilian population since Israel is the occupying power has abdicated its responsibility in providing protection, in the contrary, it is the source of killing and the lack of security for our civilian population."
"This massacre is taking place at the same time when the United States of America illegally and unilaterally and in a provocative way is opening its embassy [in Jerusalem]. It is very, very tragic that they are celebrating an illegal action while Israel is killing and injuring thousands of Palestinian civilians. This is the life of the Palestinian people and those who think that … it would be helpful to open [the embassy] for peace – it is deepening the resentment and atmosphere of hatred between people instead of moving in the direction of peace."
Mansour vowed that the Palestinian Authority "will use all of our available rights to see the Security Council shouldering its responsibility to stop this massacre, to condemn this massacre to bring those responsible to justice and to shoulder its responsibility with regard to providing protection to the civilian population. So we will be very busy in the next few days including the possibility of having an emergency meeting of the Security Council as soon as possible."
