In the early morning of 17 April, extremist Jewish settlers, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque and used violence against unarmed Palestinian worshippers.

During the previous raid on the Islamic holy site on 15 April, Israeli forces prevented settlers from entering the compound. Some settlers had animals on which to provocatively perform ritual sacrifices, an act that Israeli authorities feared would lead to a military response by the Palestinian resistance.

The entry of extremist settlers into the compound comes at the onset of the Passover holiday, which lasts from 15–23 April. Israeli authorities have also closed off the crossings of the West Bank and Gaza during this period.

Wafa News reported that the Israeli forces used stun grenades, tear gas, and rubber-coated steel bullets to chase away Palestinians, and that forces were engaged in violent beatings.

Israeli soldiers terrorize a defenseless father and his son as extremist Jewish settlers break into Al Aqsa Mosque compound. pic.twitter.com/bSHdMgch4d

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 17, 2022

Israeli forces also trapped worshippers inside the Al-Qibli Mosque building, prompting them to use the mosque loudspeakers to call for help. The worshippers called upon the Palestinian resistance forces to come to their aid in Al-Aqsa.

Calls of “O, Al-Qassam Brigades, O Muhammad al-Dhaif, we sought help from you last Ramadan, and now we seek help from you again” echoed throughout the courtyards.

Worshippers locked down inside the southernmost building in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied #Jerusalem are calling for help via loudspeakers amid a fresh Israeli onslaught on the holy site. pic.twitter.com/WwaIpsWi3G

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 17, 2022

Similar provocations during the holy month of Ramadan in 2021 prompted the Palestinian resistance to retaliate against the Israeli occupation, leading to the 11-day war.

Extremist settlers were able to enter the mosque compound after occupation forces violently cleared the area of Palestinians, allowing the settlers to perform provocative tours of the site as well as Talmudic rituals.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas stated that Al-Aqsa is a red line and that Israel is “responsible for its attack on worshippers and for allowing settlers to desecrate the vicinity of Al-Aqsa mosque.”

Hamas said that the continuation of attacks on Palestinian worshippers and on the sanctity of Al-Quds would backfire on the occupation and its settlers.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad also warned the occupation authorities that the violations and attacks on Al-Aqsa will lead to a comprehensive confrontation.

Several West Asian states have condemned the attacks, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The UAE and Bahrain also condemned the attacks. However, the two countries work closely with the Israeli government and accounted for 7 percent of Israeli weapons exports in 2021. Bahrain has a permanent Israeli military attache and allows Mossad activity on its soil.