RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Egypt on Monday condemned Israel for undermining Palestinian rights as days of clashes in Jerusalem erupted into an exchange of fire between Israel and Gaza. The comments came after talks between Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on developments in Jerusalem. The ministers discussed “the rapid developments in the Palestinian arena, and the recent Israeli incursions into the compounds of the Al-Aqsa mosque,” Ahmed Hafez, the Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman, said. Shoukry briefed Prince Faisal on and Egyptian statement calling on Israel to “assume its responsibility to stop these violations in accordance with the rules of international law, and to provide the necessary protection for Palestinian civilian.” The two ministers also affirmed their rejection of all illegal practices aimed at undermining legitimate Palestinian rights. During the call, they also reviewed relations between their countries, and ways to enhance cooperation, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said. Earlier on Monday, Egypt strongly condemned Israeli forces for storming Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, expelling Palestinian worshippers from inside the compound, and denying them access. The foreign ministry called on Israel to assume its responsibility regarding these rapid and dangerous developments, “which will lead to more tension and escalation.” More than 300 people were wounded on Monday in renewed clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at the compound, ahead of an Israeli celebration of its 1967 takeover of Jerusalem. Egypt also stressed the need to stop all practices that violate the sanctity of Al-Aqsa, especially during Ramadan. “This is in line with the rules of international law and in order to provide all types of protection for Palestinian civilians in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the rest of East Jerusalem, while not targeting the Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of Jerusalem and its holy sites. The violence since Friday has been Jerusalem’s worst since 2017, fueled by a long-running bid by Jewish settlers to evict several Palestinian families from the nearby Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem. A Supreme Court hearing on a Palestinian appeal in the case originally set for Monday was pushed back by the justice ministry due to the tensions. The UN Security Council held an informal meeting at Tunisia’s request on Monday on the unrest and Arab League foreign ministers and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation said they will hold emergency sessions on Tuesday. (With AFP)