JERUSALEM, Wednesday, February 20, 2019 (WAFA) – Dozens of Palestinians held prayer today at Bab al-Rahmeh (Golden Gate), an area inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, despite Israeli obstructions, according to witnesses.

They said dozens of people gathered in the area to hold prayer in a show of defiance of an Israeli decision to close off the area to Muslim worshippers while opening it for Jewish extremists during their provocative visit of the Muslim holy place, the third holiest site in Islam.

Israeli police placed chains on Sunday on a small metal gate at the entrance to a building adjacent to Bab al-Rahmeh to prevent Muslims from using it.

The act provoked Palestinians who defied the Israeli measure and removed the chains by force, prompting violent police reaction that led to the injury and arrest of dozens of people.

Palestinians demand free access to Bab al-Rahmeh area, which they insist is part of the holy Muslim compound, and strongly object to Israeli interference in their right to worship at their sacred place.

The situation remains tense in the area as Palestinians insist on having full access to the area because they fear Israel wants to turn the building in Bab al-Rahmeh into a Jewish worship temple as a prelude to taking over the entire 144-dunum Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as al-Haram al-Sharif or Noble Sanctuary.

Israeli police has banned Muslim access to Bab al-Rahmeh building for over a decade, raising concern about its future.

M.K.