LATEST: Gaza sees more protests and violence on Nakba Day, after 62 killed

Protests against the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem spread in the main cities of the West Bank.

This is an ongoing situation of protesting, confrontations, and Israeli army blocking roads and meeting with force any attempts at protesters gathering.

In Baten al-Hawa in Silwan neighbourhood, a Palestinian protest was met with force from the Israeli army. Silwan is close to Al-Aqsa mosque and the southern walls of the Old City.

Middle East Eye's reporter Lubna Masarwa, saw a heavy police and military presence in Jerusalem, to protect the inauguration of the US embassy that will start at 14:00 BST.

Translation: Occupation forces search a young man in Damascus Gate.

In Ramallah, north of Jerusalem, protesters marched to the Qalandia military checkpoint aiming to cross it but were met with force.

A young man was shot in the village of Deir Nidham northwest of Ramallah. Early on Monday, Israel's army closed several roads leading to Ramallah to prevent protesters from gathering before the march.

Many Palestinians were arrested on Monday morning, according to local media.

It also reported that the Israelis fired tear gas and stun grenades near a schoolyard in Tuqu', a village near Bethlehem. Several students, who were taking the end of year exams, suffered gas inhalation.

In Nissan Square in Bethlehem, protesters chanted slogans that condemns US decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem. The Israeli army blocked the entrances of the al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, with two metal gates.

In the city of Hebron, violent confrontations broke out with the Israeli army forces in the area of Bab al-Zawya. The Israeli army fired tear gas at the students at Khadija Bint Khuwailid School in the southern region of Hebron.

Palestinians in the village of Beit Furik, in Nablus city, threw stones at settlers' vehicles, causing light damage.

The Gaza health ministry reports that Israeli security operatives have now killed 37 Palestinians on the Gaza Strip. 

(Source: Gaza health ministry) 

JERUSALEM -  MEE correspondent Lubna Masarwa reports that Israeli authorities stopped a large Palestinian demonstration outside the newly built US embassy in Jerusalem. 

"There was supposed to be a big demonstration near the US embassy building, but the Israeli army has stopped Palestinians from leaving the old city to get onto buses for the protest," says Masarwa. 

"The area outside the US embassy building also has a large police presence." 

Good afternoon, Areeb here from the MEE office in London. Here's a quick summary of what has happened so far today in Gaza and the West Bank:

• The death toll in Gaza has increased rapidly, with 18 dead at the time of writing
• Nearly a thousand Palestinians have been injured in Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry  
• Protests have continued across the West Bank in opposition to the US embassy opening in Jerusalem.
• Turkish and Palestinian leaders have said that America's role in the peace process is over
• MEE's Daniel Hilton wrote about how attacks on America's diplomats have shaped the Middle East and Washington

At least 25 Palestinians have been killed across the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza's health ministry. 

(Source: Gaza health ministry)

The ministry also said that 1,693 Palestinians had been injured so far today. 

(Source: Gaza health ministry) 

BETHLEHEM, Occupied West Bank - MEE correspondent Yumna Patel reports that hundreds of Palestinians have marched towards the Israeli separation wall.

Sajida Allan, a 24-year-old Palestinian refugee living in Bethlehem's Aida refugee camp, spoke to Middle East Eye as Israeli forces suppressed demonstrations.

"We were marching peacefully - men, women, children, young people. No one was even throwing stones. But just two minutes after we arrived outside the Israeli military base, the soldiers threw sound bombs and tear gas, forcing people to run away."

"We tried to avoid the gas because it was burning our eyes and hurting our chests," she said. "They fired at us, but we were just trying to express ourselves and our frustrations with the 70 years of exile we have been living and the opening of the American embassy in Jerusalem."

While the Palestinian protests continue and the number of fatalities rise, US President Donald Trump has urged his followers to watch the opening of the US embassy on Fox News:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has retweeted Trump’s post and offered his thanks for the inauguration. He welcomed the US delegation, which includes Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, to "Jerusalem – our capital!…"

Netanyahu thanked the US president for his “bold decision”:

A Gaza-based MEE correspondent has reported that several telecom networks - including Palestinian carriers Jawwal and Wataniya, and Israeli network Cellcom - are not functioning in eastern Gaza.

It is not known whether these network problems are due to technical malfunctions or purposeful disruption by Israeli authorities. 

A great deal of Palestinian anger is directed at the inauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem, which symbolises Washington's recognition of the city as the capital of Israel.

Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since the 1967 war but neither Israel, nor any other state, is internationally recognised as having sovereignty over the city. Palestinians hope to make East Jerusalem their future capital.

This map gives a sense of where the new embassy is in the city:

Almost 1,000 Palestinians have been injured as Israeli forces reportedly use live fire more indiscriminately than in recent weeks of protest. 

At least 448 Palestinians have been wounded by live bullets, with more than 50 considered critical, according to the Gaza health ministry's spokesman Dr Ashraf al-Qudreh. 

By contrast, 146 Palestinians were injured by live fire during the most recent protests on Friday 11 May.