News - Middle East - Palestine: A group of Palestinian non-governmental organizations have called on the international community to adopt concrete measures aimed at immediate cessation of Israel’s aggression against Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds, warning about the repercussions of rising tensions there.

The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC) said in a statement on Monday that the Tel Aviv regime and its military forces have stepped up their attacks against Palestinians in Jerusalem al-Quds since the early hours of the day, specifically against worshippers inside al-Aqsa Mosque.

“Given the upsurge in acts of aggression against Palestinians over the past few weeks and Israeli settlers’ plan to storm the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, we warn that Israel’s use of force will further escalate attacks against Palestinians. We urge the international community to take immediate and concrete measures to halt Israel’s attacks,” PHROC noted.

It added, “Israel’s oppression and disintegration of the Palestinian society, systematic use of excessive force, collective punishment and arbitrary arrests policies, alongside settler violence which is being carried out with institutionalized impunity, are a few characteristics of Israel’s settler-colonial and apartheid regime.”

PHROC highlighted that the failure to take immediate and proper measures to halt Israel’s oppression of Palestinians will not only undermine the very structure of the international legal order, but will also lead to further systematic attacks against Palestinians, particularly the residents of Jerusalem al-Quds.

“Words of condemnation are not enough. Israel’s long-established unlawful policies will not come to an end as long as the international community does not have the political will to take concrete actions, including by sanctioning Israel, in order to hold Israel accountable for its breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law,” it said.

Church leaders: Actions undermining safety of worshippers 'unacceptable'

Moreover, the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem al-Quds have expressed deep concerns over recent developments in the occupied eastern flank of the holy city, particularly at al-Aqsa Mosque, emphasizing that actions undermining the safety of worshippers and dignity of Palestinians are unacceptable.

“We, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem al-Quds, are profoundly concerned about the recent violent developments in East Jerusalem al-Quds. These worrying events, no matter whether they take place at al-Aqsa Mosque or in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, damage the sanctity of Jerusalem al-Quds as the City of Peace. The actions that jeopardize the safety of worshippers and the dignity of Palestinians facing eviction are unacceptable,” they said in a statement.

“The special character of Jerusalem al-Quds requires all parties to preserve the already sensitive situation in the holy city. The rising tensions, fueled mainly by right-wing radical groups, endanger the already fragile atmosphere in and around Jerusalem al-Quds,” the church leaders pointed out.

Hundreds of Palestinians were wounded on Monday as Israeli forces launched a flash raid on the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem al-Quds.

The forces stormed Islam’s third holiest site as many worshippers prayed in the mosque, firing stun grenades, tear gas and rubber-coated metal rounds as snipers took up positions on rooftops.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said more than 300 Palestinians were hurt. 

The violent crackdown by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the city and the ensuing clashes have already sparked global concern that the unrest could spread further.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip during the Six-Day War in 1967. It later had to withdraw from Gaza, but has been occupying the other territories since.

Source: Press TV