CAIRO, July 19, 2017 (WAFA) – Egypt warned on Wednesday of the dangers of the Israeli escalation in Al-Aqsa Mosque that left many Palestinians injured.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry called on Israel to stop the violence, respect freedom of worship and give the Palestinians their right to practice their religious rituals freely and safely.

Egypt also urged Israel not to take further measures that would inflame the conflict, stir up religious feelings and increase the state of tension among the Palestinian people, warning this may undermine the chances for a just and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution.

Israeli forces reopened the holy compound on Sunday for Muslim prayers after a two-day closure; the mosque was closed on Friday morning following a shooting attack that left three Palestinians and two Israeli policemen dead.

Israeli authorities have erected metal detectors at the entrances of Al-Aqsa compound, a move that was largely refused by Palestinians.

The recent Israeli measures have ignited protests among Palestinians in East Jerusalem who were violently attacked by Israeli forces.

The Waqf department, the body in charge of Al-Aqsa Mosque, called on mosques in East Jerusalem not to hold this coming Friday prayers in their mosques and to direct people to go and hold the prayer at the nearest point to Al-Aqsa Mosque in a show of defiance of the Israeli measures and support for Muslims‘ third holiest site.

A.D./M.K.