First time, Palestinians Perform Friday Prayers at Al-Rahma Al-Aqsa Gate

Al-Quds, MINA – For the first time in 16 years, Palestinians held Friday prayers in the area near the Al-Rahma gate, which is located within the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Al-Quds (East Jerusalem).

The gate and stairs lead to the hall which has been closed by Israeli authorities for years and reopened on Friday by Muslim officials. It located not too far from the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself.

Israeli authorities closed the area in 2003. In 2017, an Israeli court enforced a closure order, Al Jazeera reported, quoted by MINA.

But on Friday, the Religious Waqf Authority, a Jordanian-run body mandated to oversee the Muslim and Christian holy sites of East Jerusalem, announced the reopening of the third holy mosque in Islam after 16 years of being sealed.

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The Director of the Religious Waqf Authority Sheikh Abdul Azim Salhab opened the door of the hall, and worshipers performa Friday prayers in there.

However, on Monday, Israeli authorities closed the Al-Rahma gate, preventing hundreds of Palestinian worshipers from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Israeli police also arrested 60 people before Friday prayers in the compound. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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