Israel dismisses calls for probe of Gaza violence
JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister rejected international calls for an investigation into deadly violence along Gaza’s border with Israel, saying Sunday that troops acted appropriately and fired only at Palestinian protesters who posed a threat.
Fifteen Palestinians were killed and more than 700 wounded in Friday’s violence near the Israeli border, according to Palestinian health officials. It was the area’s deadliest violence since a war four years ago.
Human rights groups have accused the army of using excessive force, and both the U.N. secretary-general and the European Union’s foreign policy chief have urged an investigation.