By Idris Okuducu and Dishad Saifaalddin Ahmed

ERBIL, Iraq 

Ali Al-Qaradaghi, secretary-general of the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), has decried Israeli violence against Palestinian protesters in Gaza and the relocation of Washington’s Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“We closely followed the Zionist occupation army’s violence against Palestinian demonstrators,” Al-Qaradaghi told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

“We are deeply concerned by this aggression, which accompanied the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem,” he added.

On Monday, thousands of Palestinians converged on the Gaza Strip’s eastern border to mark the passage of 70 years since “The Catastrophe” -- referring to the creation of Israel in 1948.

They were also protesting the relocation of Washington’s Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which occurred the same day.

Israeli forces deployed along the border responded to the peaceful protests with live ammunition, leaving scores of protesters dead and hundreds more injured.

Describing the U.S. and Israel as “partners in crime”, Al-Qaradaghi said: “The entire world, including many Arab leaders, is responsible for the crimes being committed against the Palestinians.

“Most Arab leaders remain silent, while some even stand by the Zionists and support U.S. and Israeli policies,” he asserted.

Al-Qaradaghi added: “The Muslim, Arab and international community must act in coordination against the Zionist regime; the criminals must be brought to justice.” 

The leading Muslim scholar went on to urge the international community to take concrete steps against what he called “ongoing crimes against humanity”.

*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara