UN urges to maintain status quo in occupied Jerusalem

Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, on Monday called for maintaining the status quo in occupied Jerusalem.

During the monthly brief to the UN Security Council, Wennesland reiterated that “political, religious and community leaders on all sides must continue to do their part to reduce tensions, uphold the status quo at the Holy Sites, and ensure their sanctity is respected.”

“Palestinian leaders have made some commendable efforts to ease tensions, condemn attacks and rein in violence,” Wennesland said, adding that such efforts “should continue”.

Wennesland also cited regional and international partners’ help in restoring calm at the holy sites and ensuring continued access for Muslim worshippers.

“In the occupied West Bank and Israel, 23 Palestinians, including three women and four children, were killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations, clashes, search-and-arrest operations, attacks and alleged attacks against Israelis, and other incidents, and 541 Palestinians, including 30 women and 80 children, were injured,” he noted.

“Israeli settlers or other civilians perpetrated 66 attacks against Palestinians resulting in nine injuries and/or damage to Palestinian property.”

“Palestinians in Gaza continue to suffer as a result of years of severe economic and movement restrictions resulting from the Israeli closure regime… and the ongoing threat of violence.”

Regarding Israeli forces’ recent raid of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, Wennesland also reiterated that “perpetrators of all acts of violence must be held accountable and brought swiftly to justice.”

Israeli occupation forces, he said, “must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.”

“I am particularly appalled that children continue to be killed and injured. I urge Israeli authorities to conduct thorough and transparent investigations into all instances of possible excessive use of force.”

The UN’s Special Coordinator also reiterated that “all settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a major obstacle to peace.”

He noted that ahead of and during the month of Ramadan, Israeli occupation authorities demolished, seized or forced owners to demolish 27 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and 1 in occupied East Jerusalem, displacing 8 Palestinians, including 4 children. The demolitions were carried out under the pretext of lacking Israeli- issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.

He also called on the Israeli authorities to end the demolition of Palestinian property and the displacement and eviction of Palestinians, and to approve additional plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs.