Egypt calls upon Palestinians, Israelis to exercise maximum restraint

CAIRO – 7 April 2023: Egypt voiced its deep concern about the accelerating and dangerous escalation in the region over the past 48 hours between the Palestinians and Israelis, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid in a statement on Friday

The escalation occurred after Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted worshipers, and the subsequent firing of missiles toward Israel, and Israeli airstrikes that targeted areas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, with the continuation of confrontations and violence.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and respond to the efforts exerted to calm, stop the bloodshed, and protect lives, warning of the grave dangers looming over the region if the current wave of violence continued.

On April 5, 2023, Israeli occupation forces stormed the Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan prayers early today, injuring scores of Palestinians.

The Israeli forces fired stun grenades at Palestinian youths in Al-Aqsa Mosque and arrested more than 400 worshippers during its assault, WAFA cited the Commission of Detainees Affairs as saying.

The Israeli violations elicited a response from Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip, who fired missiles on southern Israel, prompting frequent Israeli airstrikes.

Israeli violence has been steadily rising since the return of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power with a new far-right government late last year. Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians over the past year in the occupied lands.

Netanyahu’s government portfolios are held by religious and urtlanationalist hard-liners, including Itamar Ben-Gvir, who serves as the national security minister and is notorious for his violent rhetoric and acts against Palestinians.