As Muslims all around the world have been fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, Palestinian’s in the occupied East Jerusalem have faced brutal attacks from Israeli forces. The evening of April 4th Israeli forces entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque which held dozens of Palestinian’s who were taking part in worship, they were met with batons and riot guns from the Israeli forces as videos circulating social media show. Following the brutal, unprovoked attacks Israeli forces arrested the worshippers, while many were still badly wounded, the Israeli forces denying them medical attention, with reports of Israeli forces also attacking a medic on the scene. The Palestinian Commision of Detainees’ and Affairs stated around “400-500 have been arrested”, with Israeli Police later releasing a statement the arrests came as a part of a crack-down on rioters to bring order back to the Mosque. Palestinians in the Mosque were practising Itikaf, a religious practice in which praying, reflection and reciting of the Quran occurs overnight. Israeli authorities have put a ban on practising Itikaf at Al-Aqsa Mosque with the exception of the last 10 days of Ramadan, this has been met with widespread condemnation by Palestinians. Since the start of the Ramadan, Israeli forces have been at the Al-Aqsa to withdraw worshippers from taking part in Itikaf without the use of violence. This has led many to believe it was part of a premeditated attack by the Israeli forces, as reiterated by Najeh Bkeirat, the deputy director of the Islamic Waqf at Al-Aqsa Mosque. 

Following the attacks, national support for the victims of the brutality have heightened. Mosques around East Jerusalem used their speakers to spread news of the attacks and call for people to support the victims, this later led to multiple outbreaks of Palestians and police around the area. More news of Palestians in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and Umm al-Fahm took to the streets to protest and rally against the police brutality at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Reports of violence from both sides escalated with a rocket damaging a food factory inside Israel fired from the Gaza Strip, this was followed by the Israeli military firing air strikes into Palestinian territory, both attacks resulted in no casualties. Violence has not stopped, another attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli forces happening less than 24 hours after the first attack, batons, rubber bullets and stun grenades were used against worshippers. Israeli police claimed the forces entered the mosque again after the rioters had barricaded themselves in, and the Israeli forces were met with stones and firing of fireworks. The second attack led to 12 casualties suffering injuries from the rubber bullets. 

As videos of the attack continue to spread around social media, there has been international condemnation from states including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Türkiye. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan responded to the attacks condemning the attacks of Israeli forces and calling it a “red line” for Türkiye along with reiterating his vow to never remain silent on such attacks. Other leaders have followed with statements of their own condemning the attacks. Tensions continue to rise as Lebanon fires rockets into Israel, this marks one of the biggest escalations of the conflict since 2006. Israel fired back their own rockets into Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, damaging a children's hospital. There are now fears of even greater escalation of conflict, as Palestinian militias in Lebanon are refusing to ignore the attacks at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Hezbollah who have not claimed or denied responsibility for the rocket strike in Israel sent out a warning message, stating “hundreds of millions of muslims would shet blood” for the attack. Attempts to stop the violence are underway with the United Nations peacekeeping in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mediating between both sides to hinder any further attacks. However, there is fear both sides will try to test the limits of each other, with newly appointed Israeli leaders to utilise Palestinian violence to gain more Israeli support and Palestinian militias to continue their fight as a response to the attacks at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli-Palestinian relations have always been strained but this attack on worshippers of Islam’s third holiest site has increased tensions, the last clashes in the area lead to a 10-day war between Israel and Gaza. As Palestinian backed groups in Lebanon have joined and expressed their continued support for Palestinians through warfare there is little sign of an improvement between the Israeli-Palestinian relationship or for fighting to come to a stop. There is major ambiguity of the status-quo of the area, Israel and Palestine both recognize different rules on who is able to enter the Mosque, this only continues to fuel the rift between the two populations. Along with the increased vocality against the violence from the international audience there is fear it can harm and threaten regional security. For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the violence is the perfect distraction from the anti-government protests he has faced as he started his sixth term in office. The Israeli government is choosing to ignore international condemnation and fuel the fighting, Palestinian groups have made it clear they will not stand for violations of their rights. Both sides have expressed their refusal to step down from the violence, this grows concerns for escalation within the whole region.