Hundreds of Palestinians injured as Israeli forces storm Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque

The latest assault follows days of violence in Jerusalem, after Israeli forces attacked worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestinians protesting the eviction of families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement that on Monday "over 180 people were injured in clashes with occupation forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and around the Old City. Among these were some very serious injuries which were treated with respiratory devices".

Videos uploaded to Twitter showed Israeli forces firing stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinians inside the mosque compound.

At least one person was critically injured by a rubber bullet and 80 people taken to hospitals in the area. The Palestinian Red Crescent added that some of its own staff members were injured in the Israeli attack.

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A correspondent for The New Arab's Arabic-language service said that Israeli forces were prevented Palestinian Red Crescent medics from entering the mosque.

They also detained some of the injured worshippers who tried leaving the mosque to seek medical treatment.

Maamoun Al-Abbasi, a spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent, told The New Arab’s Arabic service: "There are some injured people inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque who have not been evacuated yet, and there is a huge number of injuries. Not being able to reach the injured is something very dangerous."

Palestinians remaining inside the mosque on Monday morning issued an appeal for help, saying Israeli forces had trapped them inside.

Calls were broadcast from the mosque's minarets, telling Palestinians to defend the site and aid those left inside.

Last Friday, an estimated 90,000 Palestinians gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is Islam's third most sacred site, for Laylat Al-Qadr, the holiest night of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Over 200 Palestinians were injured as Israeli forces assaulted worshippers on the night, with scores more injured in assaults by security forces over the weekend.

Around 30,000 people remain within the mosque compound, holding a sit-in protest following repeated Israeli provocations during Ramadan.

The situation in Jerusalem is expected to grow more tense on Monday as Israeli settlers prepare to mark "Jerusalem Day", the anniversary of East Jerusalem's capture by Israel during the 1967 war, with a provocative parade through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.

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