The EU on Saturday urged Israeli and Palestinian authorities to calm down tensions in occupied East Jerusalem.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that Peter Stano, the European Commission’s chief spokesperson on foreign affairs, said in a statement.

“The European Union calls on the authorities to act urgently to de-escalate the current tensions in Jerusalem. Acts of incitement around the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif must be avoided and the status quo has to be respected,” he added, terming the violence “unacceptable.”

The bloc urges “political, religious and community leaders on all sides” to “show restraint and responsibility”, as well as to “make every effort to calm down this volatile situation,” the official said.

The statement also stressed that those responsible for Friday’s clashes “on all sides must be held accountable.”

Stano also expressed concern over the evictions of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah district and other areas of occupied East Jerusalem.

Reiterating the EU’s stance, he said such actions are illegal under international humanitarian law and “only serve to fuel tensions on the ground.”

Recent weeks have seen a serious rise in tensions and violence in the occupied West Bank, particularly in East Jerusalem over the eviction of Palestinians to construct Israeli settlements.