Continuing violence in Occupied Palestinian Territories: Lanka urges all parties concerned to exercise restraint

Sri Lanka has urged Israel and Palestinian groups to exercise restraint in the wake of continuing violence in Palestinian territories. Israeli mounted airstrikes following rocket attacks.

A statement issued by Foreign Ministry here made specific reference to recent incidents at Al-Aqsa mosque.

International media reported Israeli police stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, in a pre-dawn raid aimed at dislodging “law-breaking youths and masked agitators” they said had barricaded themselves inside.

The next day, more than 30 rockets were fired from Lebanese soil into Israel, which the Israeli army blamed on Palestinian groups, saying it was most likely Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.

Israel then bombarded Gaza and southern Lebanon, targeting “terror infrastructures” that it said belonged to Hamas.

In two separate attacks left an Italian tourist and two British-Israeli sisters’ dead, and several injured, in Tel Aviv and the West Bank.

Subsequently Israel launched artillery strikes on Syria in retaliation for rockets the army said were fired from there onto Israeli territory.

The following is the text of FM statement issued Tuesday night: “Sri Lanka is deeply concerned over the recent escalation of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the incidents at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the holy month of Ramadan.

Sri Lanka calls on all parties concerned to exercise restraint, maintain calm and take sustained measures to address the worsening humanitarian situation.

Sri Lanka reaffirms its unwavering support for the right of the Palestinian people to statehood in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter and the relevant UN resolutions. Sri Lanka remains committed to supporting a negotiated settlement in line with internationally agreed parameters of two states living side by side on the basis of the 1967 borders, which is key to achieving long term security, peace and prosperity.”