US fully committed to peace: Trump's message to Jerusalem

In a recorded message USPresident Donald Trump on Mondayreiterated United States' commitment to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Trump's messagewas playedat a ceremony opening the USembassy in Jerusalem.

"Our greatest hope is for peace," said Trump. "The United States remains fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement," Trump said.

"The United States will always be a great friend of Israel and a partner in the cause of freedom and peace."

Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the decision to move the US embassy to the holy city from Tel Aviv, has outraged Palestinians and drawn international concern.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed at least 41 Palestinians along the Gaza border on Monday as angry protesters demonstrated at the frontier on the day the United States opened its embassy in Jerusalem, health officials said.

It was the highest Palestinian death toll in a single day since a series of protests dubbed the "Great March of Return" began at the border with Israel on March 30 and since the 2014 Gaza war.

"A great day for Israel," the USpresident, who stoked Arab anger by recognising disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December, said in a tweet.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in lockstep with Trump over fulfilling a long-standing USpromise to move the embassy to the holy city and over Washington's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal last week, echoed the sentiment.

"What a moving day for the people of Israel and the State of Israel," Netanyahu said.

(With inputs from Reuters)