Rabat – Israel raided Al Aqsa Mosque early Tuesday, pushing out Palestinian worshippers to allow entry for settlers to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover.

The raid marks the third day in a row and fourth time in a week that Israeli forces stormed the mosque grounds during the holy month of Ramadan, marking an escalation of violence against Palestinians.

Several groups of about 40 settlers each were accompanied by heavily armed guards to enter the mosque grounds, with several videos online showing them insulting and mocking the Palestinians who were pushed out.

Tear gas was used in the main prayer halls and women were forced out from the surrounding areas to let settlers in.

In the midst of the escalating tensions in the West Bank, Israel also carried out an air attack on Gaza, targeting a Hamas weapons facility after a missile was fired on Israeli territory.

No casualties or injuries have been reported by authorities in Gaza.

Hamas had previously warned that attacks against Al Aqsa would be considered a “red line,” and that it would retaliate against them.

Recent escalations

The last week has seen more and more acts of violence against Palestinians, with Israeli forces raiding Al Aqsa several days in a row and using tear gas and rubber bullets against civilian worshippers.

“There was no mercy,” Nazih Rayan, an elderly worshiper, told Palestinian outlet Al Qastal. “[The Israeli forces] laid everyone down on their faces, and handcuffed them.”

Rayan had suffered a heart attack during the initial raid, due to the anxiety of the situation, for which he had to be transported to the hospital.

Palestinian activists and civil organizations have accused Israel of firing bullets at ambulances and obstructing the transport of the hundreds of injured Palestinians to hospitals.

The raids have left hundreds injured, while hundreds more have been arrested by Israeli authorities.

Videos depicting Palestinians resisting soldiers by reading the Quran or praying in the middle of raids have also populated social media, amid an outpouring of support from Arab and Muslim communities.

Several countries in the region have called out Israel for the attacks, and called for an end to the violence.

“[The attack] can strengthen feelings of contempt, hate, and extremism, and kill chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the region,” a statement from Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.

In addition to the attacks on Al Aqsa, Israel and its settlers have also increased the rate of violent actions against Palestinian protestors and activists.

Attacking Al Aqsa and generally increasing violence against Palestinians is not new for Israel, particularly during the month of Ramadan, the holiest one of the year for Muslims.

The recent escalations mirror the events of last year, when protests in the West Bank were met with violence from Israel, which eventually escalated to an 11-day assault on the Gaza strip, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.