A UN peace envoy said Saturday that he was "deeply concerned" by heightened tensions and violence in and around Jerusalem.
"Deeply concerned by the heightened tensions & violence in & around #Jerusalem. I call on all to act responsibly & maintain calm. All must respect the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City in the interest of peace & stability. Political & religious leaders must act now," Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland said on Twitter.
Israeli police can been seen attacking worshippers inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, trapped hundreds of worshipers including children and women in the occupied East Jerusalem's Old City.#SaveSheikhJarrah
— Zubaid Ahmad (@ZubaidAhmad12) May 8, 2021
#AlAqsa#FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/Wpj389GqGE
Wennesland’s comments followed a raid Friday by Israeli police at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli police attempted to disperse worshippers inside the Haram al-Sharif area of Al-Aqsa Mosque, using stun grenades and gas bombs.
The number of injured rose to 178 in Israeli attacks at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Damascus Gate of the Old City and the Sheikh Jarrah district in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement.
Israeli police attack Muslim worshippers inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem's Old Cityhttps://t.co/l4H669XpBa
— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) May 7, 2021
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
