KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) says it views with alarm and sadness the death of some 60 Palestinians and wounding of over 2,700 in the Gaza Strip during protest actions against the opening of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem yesterday.

These protests, the PNP said in a release today, were anticipated based on the warnings throughout the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and as such, precautionary measures should have been a priority of the region to prevent the violence and unmitigated bloodshed now taking place.

The Opposition stated that the excessive use of force against the Palestinian people must be condemned and is admonishing the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) for playing a significant role in the current unrest, by its abstention from the crucial United Nations General Assembly vote in favour of protecting Jerusalem as the Holy City earlier this year.

 “We have always recognised the significance of Jerusalem in the search for a permanent resolution to the situation in the Middle East this Government has deviated from Jamaica’s historical principled position when it abstained without reason and placed the prospect of peace in the Middle East in jeopardy,” said the PNP release.

 The party explained that Jamaica has over the years maintained the right of Israel to exist; a negotiated political settlement, based on a two-state solution; the right to self-determination of the Palestinians; the call for peaceful resolution of the conflict and minimising human suffering and loss of life and the heightened role of the United Nations.

With this, the PNP added that it is mindful of this region’s importance to world peace, is calling on the GOJ to support the United Nations’ effort to restore peace in this volatile region.

“The PNP supports efforts that are fundamental to the principles of self determination and respect for the human rights of all peoples,” the release said.