EU ‘deeply concerned’ by violence at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – The European Union is “deeply concerned” by the violence at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and calls on all parties to show restraint at a time of religious holidays, an EU official said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the European Commission’s daily news briefing, Peter Stano, lead spokesperson on foreign affairs, confirmed that the EU follows “very closely” the developments in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

“The European Union is deeply concerned by the growing tensions and violence which we have seen overnight inside the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” he asserted.

He also underlined that “it is extremely important to preserve the historic status quo of the holy site.”

Stano condemned “in strongest possible terms the rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel.”

He reiterated the bloc’s call on both parties to “exercise utmost restraint and refrain from actions” that escalate tensions, "particularly in this period of religious holidays.”

This year, a number of important holidays of the Abrahamic religions – the Jewish holiday of Passover, Christian Easter, and Muslim Ramadan – are all celebrated in April.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli police said they had detained 350 Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in East Jerusalem.

A group of Palestinians barricaded themselves in the Al-Qibli Prayer Hall in the complex after Jewish settlers called for a raid on the mosque.

In response, the Israeli police smashed windows and deployed flash charges, tear gas, and rubber bullets against the worshippers.

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents Islam’s third-holiest site. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.