Clashes erupted at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem early Friday after Israeli forces stormed what is the third holiest site in Islam.
Video footage shared by Twitter user @SuleimanMas1 shows flash bangs being ignited, effectively prompting any nearby individuals to leave the area. As Israeli police appear to be using stun grenades, others are seen responding to Israeli forces by throwing random, found objects like stones.
Palestinian media service have since detailed that Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters into the tribal prayer hall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
A video shows some individuals shooting fireworks in retaliation. It is unclear which "side" of the conflict is shooting the fireworks.
Press TV News reported that at least 17 Palestinians were injured after Israeli forces stormed the mosque firing tear gas and other harmful weapons at the worshippers.
The Red Crescent in Jerusalem reported "seven injuries to the upper extremities of the body were evacuated from Al-Asbat Gate to Al-Quds Hospitals, and there are still a number of injuries inside Al-Aqsa Mosque."
This is not the first time Israeli police have attacked worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In July of 2018 Israeli soldiers stormed the holy site firing tear gas and stun grenades at Muslim worshipers. In the 2018 attack at least 15 Palestinians were injured, including three guards of the mosque.
Tensions between Palestinians and Israelis have been growing in a lead-up to Ramadan, according to analysts. “We are moving gradually towards an escalation – the conditions are ripe for an explosion,” Jerusalem-based political analyst Mazen Jaabari told Al Jazeera.
In May 2021, tensions reached a new level and saw Israeli and Hamas forces launching repeated strikes on one another over a period of 11 days.