• The Moroccan Gate is actually built on top of another gate from the Herodian period known as Barclay’s Gate. Over the years, the ground level outside this initial gate rose several meters until it was eventually walled up in the 10th century.

• During the 12th century (or perhaps later), a new gate was created at the new ground level and named the Moroccan Gate. It led out to the area in front of the Western Wall which at the time was occupied by settlers from north Africa. This area was destroyed by the Israelis after the 1967 war and the inhabitants made into refugees.

• There is currently a wooden ramp (see above) that gives direct access from the Western Wall area to the Moroccan Gate. This is the only place from where non-Muslims can get access into Masjid al-Aqsa.

References: HUMA’s travel guide to Palestine, A guide to al-Aqsa mosque – PASSIA, Wikipedia

• The name is derived from the fact that the gate leads out to the Cotton Market in the Old City of Jerusalem.
• During the 19th century the outside of the Cotton Merchants Gate was a popular place of prayers for Jews. They considered it to be the closest place they could get to the ‘Foundation Stone’ (the rock inside the Dome of the Rock which they consider holy) without actually stepping foot onto what they consider the Temple Mount.

References: A guide to al-Aqsa mosque – PASSIA, Wikipedia