Israeli prime minister blames Hamas for tensions in region

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday blamed the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, for the recent rising tensions in Israel and Palestine.

Referring to the ongoing tensions at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, Bennett in a statement by the Israeli government described what has happened recently in East Jerusalem as "a campaign against Israel led by Hamas.”

Bennett claimed that he did everything he could to ensure that all people of Israel -- Jews, Muslims and Christians -- could spend their sacred days in safety.

Bennett, who called "not to participate in lies and violence against Jews," promised that according to international law, the eastern occupied part of Jerusalem will "remain open to all."

The Israeli army also announced that its Iron Dome missile defense system had destroyed a rocket allegedly fired from Gaza.

No statements have been issued so far by the Palestinian armed resistance groups in Gaza regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, Hamas on Sunday also blamed Israel for the ongoing tensions at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

Tensions have mounted across the Palestinian territories since Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard on Friday amid clashes with worshippers, injuring hundreds.

On Sunday, more than 700 Israeli settlers forced their way into the Al-Aqsa complex under heavy police protection to celebrate the week-long Jewish Passover holiday, which started on Friday.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also condemned the Israeli escalation at the flashpoint site.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the "Temple Mount," saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Since 2003, Israel has allowed settlers into the compound almost daily.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.

*Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev from Ankara