“We urge Palestinian and Israeli officials to work together to reduce tensions”
The United States has expressed “deep concern” over Friday morning’s violence on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount (the compound of the Mosques for Muslims), where hundreds of Palestinian worshipers clashed with Israeli police in clashes. scenes similar to those which preceded the war in Gaza last May.
“We call on all parties to exercise restraint, to avoid provocation by word or deed, and to preserve the historic status quo on the Al-Masjid/Temple Mount,” the spokesperson said in a statement. US State Department, Ned Price.
“We urge Palestinian and Israeli officials to work cooperatively to reduce tensions and ensure everyone’s safety,” the statement continued.
“The Department of State is closely monitoring developments and will continue to be in close contact with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials in an attempt to defuse tensions,” it added.
Around 4:00 a.m. Friday, “dozens of young masked rioters”, some displaying themselves with flags of the armed Islamist movement Hamas, threw stones towards the Western Wall, the most important place of prayer in Jewish tradition, a Israeli police said.
She said she waited until after the prayers before entering the Temple Mount to disperse the rioters, some barricaded inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, from where they were throwing stones at the officers.
According to a report from the Palestinian Red Crescent at the end of the afternoon, “153 wounded Palestinians were transferred” to hospitals in Jerusalem, the Israeli police reported at least three wounded in their ranks.