United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the current spike in tensions around holy sites in Jerusalem in separate calls Saturday (April 23) with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
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In statements released after the two calls, the UN said Mr. Guterres discussed the “efforts to reduce tensions, put an end to provocations and unilateral measures, and restore calm“. More than 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been injured over the past week in clashes in and around the Al-Aqsa compound, a holy site for Muslims and Jews.
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Palestinians have been outraged by the massive deployment of Israeli police and repeated visits by Jews to the holy site, which is governed by a fragile power-sharing deal. Mr. Guterres has “reaffirmed that the status quo at the holy places must be maintained and respected“.
The clashes in Al-Aqsa come amid a wave of deadly violence, raising fears of a wider conflict. On Wednesday and Thursday, rocket fire from the Gaza Strip sparked retaliation from Israel. But after similar attacks launched from Gaza on Friday night and Saturday morning, Israel decided not to launch counterattacks and announced that it would close its only border with the enclave on Sunday.