No: 273, 13 October 2015

We have been following with concern that the tensions, which were sparked in East Jerusalem and the West Bank with the entry of Israeli security forces into Haram Al-Sharif, clashing with Muslim groups and blocking the entry of Muslims by force, and escalated as a result of the ban on the Palestinians to enter the old city of Jerusalem, is spreading also to Gaza as the Israeli soldiers opened fire on the demonstrators on the border of Gaza and civilian casualties occurred during Israeli air strikes on 11 October.

We strongly condemn the disproportionate use of force by Israeli security forces during the incidents which unfolded as a result of the persistent Israeli practices in violation of the status quo.

The sole way to prevent the escalation of the tensions is the compliance of Israel with the rules of international law on the Palestinian territories, which is under its occupation and putting an immediate end to its provocative arbitrary activities which aim at the status and sanctity of Haram Al-Sharif.