UN demands al-Aqsa crisis to be resolved by Friday, warning 'dangers on ground will escalate'

"It is extremely important that a solution to the current crisis be found by Friday this week," said Nickolay Mladenov after briefing the UN Security Council.

"The dangers on the ground will escalate if we go through another cycle of Friday prayer without a resolution to this current crisis," he warned.

In the early hours of Tuesday, an Israeli work-crew was seen removing the controversial metal detectors at the Lion's Gate in Jerusalem.

A statement from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's office said that metal detectors would be removed and replaced with "security inspection based on advanced technologies and other means".

However, the statement did not elaborate on the form of the new security measures, sparking fears that the move will work against the favour of Palestinians more than metal detectors.

Mounting tensions

Since Friday, a number of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces across Jerusalem and the West Bank in some of the worst street violence in years.

Three Israeli settlers were also stabbed to death in a settlement north of Ramallah.

On Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would halt security coordination with Israel until the walk-through metal detectors at the al-Aqsa mosque are removed, fuelling fears of an escalation.

"If Israel wants security coordination to be resumed they have to withdraw those measures," Abbas said in a speech on Sunday, referring to the metal detectors.

"They should know that they will eventually lose, because we have been making it our solemn duty to keep up security on our side here and on theirs."