Egypt concerned by crisis sparked by Israeli assault on Palestinian mosque

Havana, April 7 (RHC)- Egypt expressed deep concern over the escalation in the region that began after the Israeli Police stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque in the occupied area of ​​East Jerusalem, which sparked riots and clashes.

In a statement, Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, warned this Friday about the rapid and dangerous escalation since Tuesday night during the Israeli operation to evict Palestinian worshipers who were in the religious compound. Abu Zeid noted that in response, Palestinian militias fired rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, which in turn, provoked a retaliation from that country.

He called on all parties to exercise maximum self-control to reduce tension and thus avoid bloodshed. The text warned of "the extreme dangers that could threaten the region if the current wave of violence continues."

Two days ago, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli incursion against the mosque and "the flagrant attacks against people", in clear violation of all international norms and laws.

He warned that the systematic assaults on religious sites, especially the Jerusalem Esplanade of the Mosques, feed the anger of the Palestinian people, Muslims and any honest person in the world. He also called on Israel to immediately stop its attacks "which terrorize the faithful" during Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims.

In 1979 Egypt was the first Arab nation to sign a peace agreement with the Jewish state and in recent decades it has become an essential mediator between Israel and the Palestinians. Cairo played a key role in stopping the military offensive against the Gaza Strip in August last year, which killed 49 Palestinians, 17 of them minors.

Likewise, the efforts of this nation were essential to reach a truce during another attack on the coastal enclave in May 2021, when more than 250 people lost their lives. (Source: Prensa Latina)