10 things you need to know today: May 15, 2018

The death toll in Palestinian protests rises to 61, Iraq confirms election of former militia leader's coalition, and more

Dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli military forces during protests in Gaza.
(Image credit: MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

1. Death toll in Palestinian protests rises to 61

Israeli troops fired on tens of thousands of Palestinians protesting along the Gaza border fence on Monday, killing at least 61 people and injuring more than 2,700, Gaza health officials said. It was the bloodiest day in seven weeks of demonstrations against Israel's blockade of Gaza. Israeli military officials said some of the Palestinians were planting or throwing explosives, and that many of those hurt had merely inhaled tear gas. The violence came in a surge of protest against Monday's opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, a city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians as their capital. President Trump decided last year to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. More protests are expected Tuesday.

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Harold Maass, The Week US

Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.