Two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in besieged Gaza

Israeli forces have killed two Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip as they violently suppressed protests condemning US President Donald Trump’s decision to declare Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Gazan health ministry said.

"Zakaria al-Kafarneh, 24, died after being shot in the chest east of Jabalia (in northern Gaza)," a health ministry spokesman said in a statement.

The health ministry then announced the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Nabil Muhaisin who was killed by an Israeli sniper in eastern Gaza.

Mohammed is the tenth Palestinian to have been killed by Israeli forces since Trump's December 6 announcement.

Fresh anti-Trump protests were taking place in both the West Bank and Gaza on Friday, while minor scuffles broke out after the main weekly Muslim prayers in Jerusalem.

Trump's controversial announcement has undermined the likelihood of a reconciliation, and damaged the already fragile Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

Israel regards Jerusalem as its capital, a position nearly the entire world rejects saying its status should be determined in peace talks with the Palestinians. Jerusalem is a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Arab leaders and others have reacted in anger.  

Trump's move has been condemned worldwide and protests have taken place globally in US, UK, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan.

*This is an update to an earlier story