Israeli forces stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem on Friday morning. During the morning prayers, the army stormed in and unleashed an attack.
Local media reported that grenades and tear gas were used inside the church. International media reports say 67 people have been injured. Scenes of the Israeli army raiding the mosque have already spread on social media.
There have been similar attacks on the same days in previous years.
Meanwhile, the West fears that Israeli aggression against the Palestinians will continue. Concerns have been raised that the continuing attacks on Palestinians during Ramadan could lead to another war. Observers say things are heading for a bigger explosion.
The 11-day-long airstrikes culminated in clashes over the evacuation of Palestinian families from Jerusalem last Ramadan. This time around, Israel is once again reeling from the horrific memories of an old attack that killed 253 people, including 66 children. Several Palestinians, including women, have been shot dead by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since March 22, killing 14 people in separate attacks in Israel.
A Palestinian Authority lawyer and a 14-year-old man were killed on Wednesday. Thirty-six Palestinians have been killed since January. The region fears that Israeli raids on the Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Fatah Party, could escalate into an open confrontation.
Islamic Jihad has warned that it will retaliate strongly if the attacks continue. Hamas spokesman Hassam Qasim said Israel would not stand idly by if it did not end its offensive against migrants. Israeli forces’ night raids and arrests in East Jerusalem have escalated tensions. Despite restrictions, Israeli settlers continue to encroach on the Masjid al-Aqsa.