Two old videos of Al-Aqsa Mosque circulate as after announcement of ceasefire agreement in Gaza

First Claim: Social media accounts circulated a video consisting of two scenes showing thousands of people in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, with the claim that it documents chants from the mosque following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The video was accompanied by the caption:
“Chants from Al-Aqsa Mosque in celebration of the resistance’s victory. Oh God, grant us chants like these on the day of your liberation, O Aqsa, and allow us to pray and prostrate in your courtyards in gratitude and praise to God.”

The video also included audio chants such as “At your service, O Aqsa” and “With our souls and blood, we sacrifice for you, O Aqsa.”

Kashif verified the video via “Google Images” and found it to be misleading. The video is composed of two old scenes that date back to Laylat al-Qadr at Al-Aqsa Mosque in April 2023.

Photographer Fawaz Al-Toubasi posted the first scene on his TikTok account “Fwaztobasy” on 18/4/2023, describing it as “Laylat al-Qadr at Al-Aqsa Mosque.” The video did not include the chants claimed but rather featured the nasheed “O God, send blessings upon our master Muhammad” and the sound of the call to prayer.

Al-Toubasi also posted the second scene on the same date, captioned: “You see them bowing and prostrating… scenes from the commemoration of Laylat al-Qadr at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.” However, the audio accompanying Al-Toubasi’s video is no longer available.

Upon reviewing Al-Toubasi’s account, it was found to contain numerous videos related to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

Second Claim: Social media accounts also shared a video showing worshippers chanting inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, claiming it occurred after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The video was captioned: “Hamas flag waving in Al-Aqsa amid victory celebrations.”

Kashif verified the video’s via “Google Images” and found it to be old and misleading. The video actually documents worshippers’ chants at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Laylat al-Qadr in 2023.

The Al-Quds Channel account on “X” posted a video of the same event from a different angle on 17/4/2023, captioned:
“It feels like a day of liberation. Chants from the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque now.” The same banner visible in the circulated video appears in this footage.

Similarly, journalist Mustafa Al-Zaabi shared a video documenting the event from another angle on his Instagram account on 17/4/2023, captioned:
“Night of the 27th, Ramadan 2023 – The blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem – Young men chanting before Taraweeh prayers.”

Activist Saleh Zagari also shared another video showing chants on his Instagram account on 17/4/2023, mentioning that 250,000 people gathered at Al-Aqsa Mosque on the 27th night of Ramadan.

Kashif contacted Jerusalem-based journalist Manar Al-Shuweiki, who confirmed that the circulated video dates back to Laylat al-Qadr in 2023, when large numbers of worshippers from the West Bank and Palestinians in Israel attended. She denied that chants occurred at Al-Aqsa Mosque following the ceasefire announcement, citing strict Israeli scrutiny, bans on gatherings, and the prohibition of raising the Palestinian flag at Al-Aqsa since the beginning of the aggression on Gaza.

A report by the Palestine Information Center published on 17/4/2023, mentioned mass gatherings at Al-Aqsa courtyards during Ramadan, particularly after Taraweeh and Fajr prayers, which included various chants.

On 15/1/2025, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced a ceasefire agreement between Hamas in Gaza and the Israeli government. The agreement is set to take effect on Sunday, 19/1/2025, with the exact time to be announced later.