Palestinian worshippers have entered the Bab al-Rahma (Gate of Mercy) area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the first time since 2003.

Video filmed this afternoon (February 22) shows the Palestinian flag being waved and activists singing religious chants after worshipers broke off a seal to the al-Rahma gate in East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The al-Rahma gate has been sealed off by Israeli authorities in 2003 until last Friday (February 15), when worshippers reportedly forced their way into the area ahead of the weekly Friday prayer, defying the Israeli ban of Muslim worshipping in the area.

Israeli police reportedly arrested 60 people overnight.

Palestinian worshipers and activists were able to break the seal off imposed on al-Rahma Gate (Gate of Mercy) in the eastern part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, on Friday noon, which has been sealed off since 2003 by an Israeli decision. Palestinians raised the Palestinian flag as they called slogans in support of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The worshippers, led by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, and other religious leaders forced their way into the area ahead of the weekly Friday prayer, defying the Israeli ban of Muslim worshipping in the area.

The worshipers chanted religious and national slogans and mounted the flag of Palestine to show delight at the reopening of the area, which has only been open during the past 16 years to Jewish fanatics during provocative visits to the Muslim holy place, the third holiest site in Islam.

over 60 thousand worshippers from occupied Jerusalem and the Palestinian towns in Israel were able to perform Friday prayer inside the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque today despite Israel’s restrictions. Hundreds of Palestinians performed Friday prayers inside the al-Rahma Gate building and in the compound.

The Israeli police already arrested 60 people overnight to prevent any tensions. Earlier this week, Israeli forces had previously assaulted Palestinian worshipers performing prayers at the gate in protest of the seal off.

Interview - Firas Aldbs / Director of Public Relations in the Palestinian Endowments Department
Video time 03:56 -04:37
The message was clear and we are not afraid of the police and nothing, and our