The prime minister urged Israel to “show restraint” after soldiers shot dead two more Palestinians near the border on Tuesday.

Monday was the deadliest day in the region since the 2014 Gaza war, as 60 Palestinians were killed and more than 2,700 wounded amid protests over the US embassy’s move to Jerusalem.

At a UN Security Council meeting, Palestine insisted Israel had committed a war crime by firing at the protesters, while Hamas – the rulers of Gaza – was accused of using civilians as “human shields”.

More than 60 Palestinians have been killed in violent clashes on the Gaza border
In a press conference with Turkey’s president at Downing Street, Mrs May said the loss of life in Gaza was “tragic and extremely concerning”.

“Such violence is destructive to peace efforts and we call on all sides to show restraint,” she said.

“There is an urgent need to establish the facts of what happened yesterday through an independent and transparent investigation, including why such a volume of live fire was used and what role Hamas played in events.”

Mrs May said Israel had a right to defend its borders but the use of live fire and the resulting loss of life was “deeply troubling”.

Palestinian refugee: ‘I will never forget’
“We urge Israel to show restraint,” she added.

“It is in everyone’s interests for peace and stability to prevail in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.”

In a phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence in Gaza and spoke of the importance of protecting civilians and their right to protest.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israel had committed a “horrible massacre” and accused Mr Netanyahu of having “the blood of Palestinians on his hands”.