The United Nations (UN) has urged Israel to exercise “restraint” as tensions rise between Israelis and Palestinians over the contested area of East Jerusalem. The call comes as clashes between the two sides in recent days have left more than 300 people wounded.
In a statement, UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric intimated that Secretary General, Antonio Guterres,;wants the Israeli government to halt all demolitions and evictions from the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
“The Secretary-General expresses his deep concern over the continuing violence in occupied East Jerusalem,;as well as the possible evictions of Palestinian families from their homes. He urges Israel to cease demolitions and evictions.”
The statement added that Guterres urged that the status quo at the holy sites be upheld and respected.
The statement comes amid protests by Palestinians over the potential eviction of residents from their homes in East Jerusalem. The protests have been;met by a violent crackdown by Israeli police, who fired;rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades towards rock-hurling Palestinians.
Israel’s Supreme Court was supposed to hold a hearing on the Sheikh Jarrah evictions later today, 10th May. However, officials cancelled the session at the supreme court after the violent clashes that saw dozens of people injured.
Addressing the clashes earlier, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas said he “held Israel responsible for the dangerous developments and sinful attacks taking place in the holy city”. He also called on the UN Security Council to hold an urgent session on the issue.
Israel captured East Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in a war in 1967. The Palestinians seek all three areas for a future state, with east Jerusalem as their capital whiles Israel insists the city should remain undivided.
US expresses ‘serious concerns’ about Jerusalem clashes
US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan has also expressed “serious concerns” about violent clashes in Jerusalem, in recent days, in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart.
According to a White House statement, “Mr. Sullivan also reiterated the United States’ serious concerns about the potential evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.”
In another development, Israeli officials have approved a march known as Jerusalem Day in which participants support Israel’s claim to the whole of the holy city. However, the match is considered as highly provocative by Palestinians as it celebrates Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem.
Observers have expressed their concerns that the match scheduled for 10th May could trigger more fighting between both sides.
Sullivan, in the Statement, also urged Israel “to pursue appropriate measures to ensure calm during Jerusalem Day commemorations.”
He also commented on the Israeli military’s report that Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired four rockets toward Israel, setting off air raid sirens in southern city of Ashkelon and nearby areas.
“The launching of rocket attacks and incendiary balloons from Gaza towards Israel is unacceptable and must be condemned.”
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