Palestinians wave their national flag as they demonstrate near the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip | Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images Dozens killed during protests against US embassy move to Jerusalem US embassy in Jerusalem to be officially opened Monday.

At least 37 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,600 were injured Monday during a protest against the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.

The opening of the embassy on Monday coincides with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding, and was greeted with a mass protest along the Gaza border.

It was the biggest showdown since the U.S. announcement in February that it is moving its embassy from Tel Aviv, which sparked weekly protests that resulted in the deaths of more than 40 Palestinians. Monday's death toll stands at 37 with at least 1,693 injured, the Palestinian health ministry reported.

Naftali Bennett, Israel’s education minister, told Israel Radio that anyone who approached the fence would be considered a terrorist, the Guardian reported.

The U.S. decision to relocate its embassy caused outrage among Palestinians, who see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

The move was also harshly criticized by some global heads of state, with leaders in the Middle East warning Donald Trump that the move would undermine peace efforts in the region and that it would spark mass protests and even terrorism.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Trump's "bold decision," saying it was "the right thing to do," but most countries have kept their embassies in Tel Aviv. So far, only the governments of Guatemala and Paraguay appear poised to follow Trump's lead.

European leaders from countries like Britain, France and Germany reportedly skipped a celebratory night on Sunday with Israel's foreign ministry.

This article has been updated with the latest death toll from Palestinian officials.