UPDATE -Turkish FM blames Israel for ‘state terror’ in Gaza

UPDATES WITH MORE QUOTES FROM CAVUSOGLU, DEATH TOLL RISES

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s foreign minister on Monday strongly denounced Israeli violence against civilians during anti-occupation rallies in the Gaza Strip.

"There is a massacre there, state terror," said Mevlut Cavusoglu in a live phone interview to local broadcaster A Haber TV.

At least 41 Palestinians were martyred and hundreds injured on Monday by Israeli gunfire during anti-occupation rallies in the Gaza Strip, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

Thousands of Palestinians have gathered on Gaza Strip’s eastern border since early morning to take part in protests aimed to commemorate the Nakba anniversary and protest relocating the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The rallies will culminate on Tuesday, May 15, the 70th anniversary of Israel's establishment -- an event Palestinians refer to as the "Nakba" or "the Catastrophe".

"The U.S. is trying to impose its own solution regarding the Jerusalem issue," Cavusoglu said, adding the U.S. had lost its mediator role by siding with Israel on the embassy move.

He said: "The current administration in the U.S. is completely pro-Israel. It is an administration that advocates Israeli rights more than those of the Americans. We are clearly seeing this, and they do not hide it either."

Cavusoglu also recalled the UN vote rejecting Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the U.S. directly threatening some countries with aid cuts for refusing to tow its line in foreign policy.

Commenting on the events, Cavusoglu urged the international community to take joint steps in recognizing the State of Palestine.

"The international community must stand tall against this injustice and lawlessness regarding the [Palestine] matter. Condemning today's massacre is not enough anymore. Joint steps must be taken," he said.

Cavusoglu also urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League to take a stronger stance for the Palestinian cause. "We must embrace our rightful cause," he called out.

Last week, the Israeli government said that the rallies are part of a state of war and human rights laws are not applicable in such case.