Malaysia expresses concern over incidents in occupied East Jerusalem

Palestinians carry the body of Nassim Abu Fouda who was killed by Israeli security forces near a checkpoint early in the morning, during his funeral in Hebron city in the occupied West Bank, on January 30,2023. - Abu Fouda was killed by Israeli troops, officials on both sides said, with the Israeli army saying his car had hit a soldier's leg before speeding off. He is the 35th Palestinian killed in the conflict in January, in the occupied West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem -- including militants, civilians and several children -- according to an AFP tally based on official sources from both sides. - AFP pic

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is deeply concerned over the rise of deadly incidents in the Palestine's occupied East Jerusalem where lives have been lost and many others wounded.

The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement said as a matter of principle, Malaysia had always opposed to any hostile acts targeting civilians and strongly condemned the killing of civilians.

"The current violent tension in East Jerusalem is directly stemming from the prolonged Israeli illegal occupation and the Occupier's apartheid policies, desecration of Al-Aqsa, as well as continued aggressions and provocations against Palestinians.

"The occupation must end to avoid vicious cycle of violence," read the statement.

The statement said that Malaysia calls for utmost restraint, stressing necessary steps must be taken to de-escalate the current tensions, with the Israeli regime to immediately halt further provocation and unilateral action in the interest of peace and security.

"Malaysia stands firm by its long-held position that the Palestinians deserve their own independent state, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital," it added.

In one of Jerusalem's deadliest attacks in 15 years, a 21-year-old Palestinian opened fire on people as they came out of a synagogue after prayers on Friday.

The US strongly condemned the attack in East Jerusalem, in which seven people were killed.

A day later, Israeli police said a father and son were shot and wounded by a 13-year-old Palestinian boy in an ambush on the streets of East Jerusalem.

On Thursday, nine Palestinians were killed in an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp. – BERNAMA