The European Union (EU) Wednesday voiced “deep concern” by the growing tensions and violence overnight inside the compound of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
“It is extremely important to preserve the historic status quo of the holy sites,” EU lead spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, Peter Stano, told a news conference in Brussels in reply to a question by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
“We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and refrain from actions that will or could increase the already high level of tensions, particularly in this period of religious holidays,” he said.
Stano noted that the meetings in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh on 19 March “provided constructive commitments that should be implemented in good faith.” The EU remains fully committed to support these de-escalation efforts, he stressed, and added that EU High Representative Josep Borrell has confirmed this commitment in his talks with the US State Secretary Blinken and Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi in Brussels on Tuesday.
According to media reports, Israeli occupation police attacked and arrested Palestinian worshippers in a violent dawn raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem during the fasting month of Ramadhan.
At least 400 Palestinians were arrested on Wednesday and remain in Israeli custody, said the reports.
Source: Kuwait News Agency