India has expressed its "deep concern" over violence in Jerusalem at the United Nations Security Council session on the ongoing Israel-Palestine escalating situation. This is the third session of UNSC on the situation, but first open session since the previous two&nbsp;meetings were closed.

Calling for "immediate de-escalation" as the "need of the hour, so as to arrest any further slide towards the brink", India's Ambassador to United Nation T S Tirumurti said, "we urge both sides to show extreme restraint, desist from actions that exacerbate tensions" and "refrain from attempts to unilaterally change the existing status quo, including East Jerusalem and its neighbourhood".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-pm-netanyahu-defends-media-house-attack-says-building-was-legitimate-target-385466" hreflang="en">Netanyahu defends media house attack, says building was 'legitimate target'</a>

The violence started in Jerusalem at the Haram Al-Sharif, also known as Temple Mount during Ramzan, with the key reason being the possible eviction of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. The area is a holy site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The violence later spread to both West Bank and Gaza.&nbsp;

The Indian envoy Tirumurti condemned the "indiscriminate rocket firing from Gaza targeting the civilian population in Israel" that has "caused immense suffering and resulted in deaths" and paid tributes to the Indian national Soumya Santhosh who died in the rocket firing in the city of Ashkelon.&nbsp;

He said, "India has lost one of her nationals living in Israel.." and "we deeply mourn her demise along with all other civilians who have lost their lives in the current cycle of violence", reiterating "strong condemnation of all acts of violence, provocation, incitement and destruction".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-palestine-conflict-israel-palestine-clash-at-unsc-meet-385476">Watch |</a>

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Soumya Santhosh from the southern Indian state of Kerala was a caregiver living in the country for many years. She died in the Hamas rocket strike and is survived by her nine-year-old son and her husband. India's minister of state in the Ministry Of External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and Israel's Deputy Envoy Rony Yedidia Clein were present at the Delhi airport when her mortal remains reached India.

Ambassador Tirumurti listed New Delhi's "strong support to the just Palestinian cause and its unwavering commitment to the two&nbsp;state solution" and highlighted that the current situation "underscored the need for immediate resumption of dialogue between Israel and Palestinian authorities". The envoy also pointed out&nbsp;that the "absence of direct and meaningful negotiations between the parties is widening the trust deficit between the parties" and this "will increase the chances for similar escalation in future".

India at UNSC also explained how Jerusalem has a "special place in hearts of millions of Indians", with the city housing an Indian hospice — Al Zawiyya Al Hindiyya. The Hospice has been restored by the Indian government.&nbsp;According to legend, Indian Sufi saint Baba Farid had visited the site in AD 1200, meditating at the location.

India has expressed its "deep concern" over violence in Jerusalem at the United Nations Security Council session on the ongoing Israel-Palestine escalating situation.

India has expressed its "deep concern" over violence in Jerusalem at the United Nations Security Council session on the ongoing Israel-Palestine escalating situation. This is the third session of UNSC on the situation, but first open session since the previous two meetings were closed. Calling for "immediate de-escalation" as the "need of the hour, so as to arrest any further slide towards the brink", India's Ambassador to United Nation T S Tirumurti said, "we urge both sides to show extreme restraint, desist from actions that exacerbate tensions" and "refrain from attempts to unilaterally change the existing status quo, including East Jerusalem and its neighbourhood". Also read | Netanyahu defends media house attack, says building was 'legitimate target' The violence started in Jerusalem at the Haram Al-Sharif, also known as Temple Mount during Ramzan, with the key reason being the possible eviction of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. The area is a holy site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The violence later spread to both West Bank and Gaza. The Indian envoy Tirumurti condemned the "indiscriminate rocket firing from Gaza targeting the civilian population in Israel" that has "caused immense suffering and resulted in deaths" and paid tributes to the Indian national Soumya Santhosh who died in the rocket firing in the city of Ashkelon. He said, "India has lost one of her nationals living in Israel.." and "we deeply mourn her demise along with all other civilians who have lost their lives in the current cycle of violence", reiterating "strong condemnation of all acts of violence, provocation, incitement and destruction". Watch | Soumya Santhosh from the southern Indian state of Kerala was a caregiver living in the country for many years. She died in the Hamas rocket strike and is survived by her nine-year-old son and her husband. India's minister of state in the Ministry Of External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and Israel's Deputy Envoy Rony Yedidia Clein were present at the Delhi airport when her mortal remains reached India. Ambassador Tirumurti listed New Delhi's "strong support to the just Palestinian cause and its unwavering commitment to the two state solution" and highlighted that the current situation "underscored the need for immediate resumption of dialogue between Israel and Palestinian authorities". The envoy also pointed out that the "absence of direct and meaningful negotiations between the parties is widening the trust deficit between the parties" and this "will increase the chances for similar escalation in future". India at UNSC also explained how Jerusalem has a "special place in hearts of millions of Indians", with the city housing an Indian hospice — Al Zawiyya Al Hindiyya. The Hospice has been restored by the Indian government. According to legend, Indian Sufi saint Baba Farid had visited the site in AD 1200, meditating at the location.

At UNSC, India expresses concern over Jerusalem violence; mourns loss of Soumya Santhosh

Palestinians were set to return to pray at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site on Thursday after Israeli authorities removed controversial new security measures, potentially ending a nearly two-week crisis that sparked deadly unrest.

Muslim authorities announced a boycott of the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, was to end on Thursday afternoon after&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;removed remaining new security measures.

The compound includes the revered Al-Aqsa mosque and the golden-topped Dome of the Rock. Palestinians had boycotted it since the security measures were installed following a July 14 attack nearby that killed two policemen.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas joined calls for worshippers to return to the site.

&quot;The prayers will happen, God willing, inside the Al-Aqsa mosque,&quot; Abbas told a press conference.

Abbas announced a freeze on contacts with&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;last week over the dispute, including security coordination, and said on Thursday a meeting would be held on whether to lift it.

Midday prayers were again held outside the compound, with officials saying preparations had to be made for worshippers to return to it for afternoon prayers at around 4:30 pm (1330 GMT).

Before the midday prayer, there were celebrations with hundreds of people clapping and singing.&nbsp;

It became quiet later as the prayer time approached, with worshippers spreading out prayer mats on the ground.

Standoff nears end?

A tense standoff had been underway between&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and Muslim worshippers at the holy site for nearly two weeks despite the removal of metal detectors on Tuesday.

Newly installed railings and scaffolding where cameras were previously mounted were also removed early on Thursday.

Police said on Thursday morning that all new security measures had now been removed.

Muslims had refused to enter the compound and prayed in the streets outside after&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;installed the new security measures.

Palestinians viewed the move as&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;asserting further control.

Israeli authorities said the metal detectors were needed because the July 14 attackers smuggled guns into the compound and emerged from it to attack the officers.

Deadly unrest erupted in the days after the new measures were introduced, with clashes breaking out around the compound and in the occupied West Bank, leaving five Palestinians dead.

A Palestinian also broke into a home in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank last week and stabbed four Israelis, killing three of them.

There had been concerns that Friday&#39;s main weekly Muslim prayers -- which typically draw thousands to Al-Aqsa -- would lead to serious clashes between protesters and Israeli security forces if a resolution was not found.

Celebrations at site

In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, crowds of Palestinians gathered at the entrance of the site to celebrate the removal of the remaining security installations, with whistling and constant horns from cars.

Young men set off firecrackers as Israeli forces watched closely.

Firas Abasi said he felt like crying over the &quot;victory&quot;.

&quot;For 12 days no one has slept, no one has done anything except the Al-Aqsa mosque,&quot; he said.

Following intensive international diplomacy and warnings of the potential for wider unrest,&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;removed the metal detectors early on Tuesday.

Cameras installed after the attack on the police were also removed.

But Israeli officials said previously they were to be replaced with &quot;advanced technologies&quot; -- widely believed to be smart cameras with facial recognition technology.

The remaining installations and suspicions over what new measures&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;was planning had led Palestinian and Muslim leaders to continue to urge a boycott of the site, and worshippers had heeded their call.

It was not immediately clear if&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;would stick to reported plans to install a smart camera system in Jerusalem&#39;s Old City. Cameras are already widespread inside its walls.

Jordan is the custodian of Muslim holy sites at the compound, and King Abdullah II had called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove the security measures.

Information Minister Mohammad al-Momani on Thursday welcomed their removal, calling it an &quot;essential step towards calm.&quot;

The holy compound lies in east Jerusalem, seized by&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community.

The third-holiest site for Muslims and the most sacred for Jews, it is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has served as a rallying cry for Palestinians.

In 2000, a visit to the compound by then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon helped ignite the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

A tense standoff had been underway between?Israel?and Muslim worshippers at the holy site for nearly two weeks despite the removal of metal detectors on Tuesday

Palestinians were set to return to pray at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site on Thursday after Israeli authorities removed controversial new security measures, potentially ending a nearly two-week crisis that sparked deadly unrest. Muslim authorities announced a boycott of the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, was to end on Thursday afternoon after Israel removed remaining new security measures. The compound includes the revered Al-Aqsa mosque and the golden-topped Dome of the Rock. Palestinians had boycotted it since the security measures were installed following a July 14 attack nearby that killed two policemen. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas joined calls for worshippers to return to the site. "The prayers will happen, God willing, inside the Al-Aqsa mosque," Abbas told a press conference. Abbas announced a freeze on contacts with Israel last week over the dispute, including security coordination, and said on Thursday a meeting would be held on whether to lift it. Midday prayers were again held outside the compound, with officials saying preparations had to be made for worshippers to return to it for afternoon prayers at around 4:30 pm (1330 GMT). Before the midday prayer, there were celebrations with hundreds of people clapping and singing. It became quiet later as the prayer time approached, with worshippers spreading out prayer mats on the ground. Standoff nears end? A tense standoff had been underway between Israel and Muslim worshippers at the holy site for nearly two weeks despite the removal of metal detectors on Tuesday. Newly installed railings and scaffolding where cameras were previously mounted were also removed early on Thursday. Police said on Thursday morning that all new security measures had now been removed. Muslims had refused to enter the compound and prayed in the streets outside after Israel installed the new security measures. Palestinians viewed the move as Israel asserting further control. Israeli authorities said the metal detectors were needed because the July 14 attackers smuggled guns into the compound and emerged from it to attack the officers. Deadly unrest erupted in the days after the new measures were introduced, with clashes breaking out around the compound and in the occupied West Bank, leaving five Palestinians dead. A Palestinian also broke into a home in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank last week and stabbed four Israelis, killing three of them. There had been concerns that Friday's main weekly Muslim prayers -- which typically draw thousands to Al-Aqsa -- would lead to serious clashes between protesters and Israeli security forces if a resolution was not found. Celebrations at site In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, crowds of Palestinians gathered at the entrance of the site to celebrate the removal of the remaining security installations, with whistling and constant horns from cars. Young men set off firecrackers as Israeli forces watched closely. Firas Abasi said he felt like crying over the "victory". "For 12 days no one has slept, no one has done anything except the Al-Aqsa mosque," he said. Following intensive international diplomacy and warnings of the potential for wider unrest, Israel removed the metal detectors early on Tuesday. Cameras installed after the attack on the police were also removed. But Israeli officials said previously they were to be replaced with "advanced technologies" -- widely believed to be smart cameras with facial recognition technology. The remaining installations and suspicions over what new measures Israel was planning had led Palestinian and Muslim leaders to continue to urge a boycott of the site, and worshippers had heeded their call. It was not immediately clear if Israel would stick to reported plans to install a smart camera system in Jerusalem's Old City. Cameras are already widespread inside its walls. Jordan is the custodian of Muslim holy sites at the compound, and King Abdullah II had called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove the security measures. Information Minister Mohammad al-Momani on Thursday welcomed their removal, calling it an "essential step towards calm." The holy compound lies in east Jerusalem, seized by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community. The third-holiest site for Muslims and the most sacred for Jews, it is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has served as a rallying cry for Palestinians. In 2000, a visit to the compound by then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon helped ignite the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

Palestinians to end boycott of Jerusalem holy site

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At UNSC, India expresses concern over Jerusalem violence; mourns loss of Soumya Santhosh

Palestinians to end boycott of Jerusalem holy site