ISRAEL – (WARSOOR) – The United States has expressed “serious concern” about violence in Jerusalem as Israeli police again cracked down on protesters rallying against the forced expulsions of Palestinian families from the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
The condemnation from Washington came as the Palestinian Red Crescent said at least 17 people, including one Palestinian paramedic, were wounded during peaceful demonstrations across East Jerusalem on Sunday evening.
Tensions have escalated in Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid growing anger about potential forced expulsions of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, on land claimed by illegal Jewish settlers.
At least 90 Palestinians were wounded on Saturday during an Israeli police crackdown on protesters outside the Old City of Jerusalem, while another 200 Palestinians were injured on Friday when Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Sunday’s skirmishes – though less intense than those seen in recent days – raised the likelihood of a further escalation on Monday, when Israelis mark what they call Jerusalem Day – the day East Jerusalem was occupied in 1967 and later annexed by Israel.
SOURCE: REUTERS