UNITED NATIONS, April 6. /TASS/. The current escalation around Israel and Palestine is dangerous, and further escalation will not contribute to settlement of the situation in Jerusalem, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said Thursday.

"The escalation that we see today is dangerous. […] Further escalation will not contribute to settlement of the current situation in Jerusalem, which, in our opinion, preceded what happened later," Nebenzya told reporters after the closed Security Council consultations on the situation around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

"We agreed [during Security Council consultation] to continue our discussions," the diplomat noted. "It is necessary to monitor the events. I hope that de-escalation, not escalation, will follow."

Earlier on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces press office reported that at least 34 rockets were launched at Israel, with 25 rockets intercepted by air defense systems, 5 falling on Israeli territory. The escalation in the north of Israel started amid rising tensions in the country’s southern areas, which are adjacent to the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian radicals have been firing rockets toward Israel for two straight days. That’s happening amid the flare-up around the Temple Mount, where several clashes have recently occurred between Palestinians and Israeli forces.

On Tuesday, Palestine’s WAFA news agency reported that Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque in Eastern Jerusalem, using flashbangs, tear gas, rubber bullets and batons. According to Lebanese media, over 400 people were detained. Meanwhile, the Israeli police said Wednesday that dozens of young people in masks barricaded themselves inside the temple complex, chanting slogans and calling for riots.