THREAD: Last night, Israeli forces terrorized thousands of Palestinian worshipers, unleashing tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun grenades inside Al Aqsa Mosque. Over 200 Palestinians were injured, including 88 who were hospitalized. One Palestinian lost an eye.

The armed invasion of Muslims’ holiest site in Jerusalem came towards the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.

Palestinians stayed at Al Aqsa after prayers to protest against Israeli plans to evict Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

Israeli courts have ruled that Palestinians can be evicted from their homes so Israeli settlers can take them. In total, more than 200 Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah face forced eviction.

Palestinians fear more settler and police violence as Israelis gear up to celebrate “Jerusalem Day” on Sunday night and Monday, when Israelis celebrate Israel’s occupation of the holy city. Settlers typically maraud through the Old City on “Jerusalem Day,” terrorizing families.

Israel’s violence has a clear purpose: ethnically cleanse Jerusalem of Palestinians to allow Israeli settlers to take over Palestinian homes.

Nowhere in Jerusalem is safe for Palestinians. This is the brutality of Israeli apartheid.