EU voices concern over escalation of violence in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon

The EU on April 8 expressed "deep" concern about the grave escalation of violence recently in Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Lebanon.

"Last night again, deadly terrorist attacks occurred in Tel Aviv, one of them killing an Italian tourist. The EU expresses its total condemnation of these acts of violence," the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement, Anadolu reports.

"This must cease," he urged.

The upsurge in violence followed days of tension and clashes at the holy sites, including the intervention and the use of force by Israeli police inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, as Borrell noted. "The EU condemns the violent incidents which have happened in the Holy Sites and reminds that the status quo of all the Holy Sites must be preserved."

He also condemned the "indiscriminate" rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza and the territory of Lebanon which killed two Israelis and left one seriously injured.

"Israel has the right to defend itself. At the same time, any response must be proportionate," he added.

Borrell said the EU urges all parties to "exercise maximum restraint, to avoid further escalation and promote calm for the ongoing religious holidays."