16 July, 2017
The terrorists reportedly came from the Temple Mount and were walking toward the Lions Gate exit when they attacked Israeli officers near the gate. A body could be seen on the ground near the Al-Aqsa mosque in the Old City.
Police released images of what they said were the assailants' weapons, including a knife, a pistol and a homemade automatic firearm.
A hail of gunfire could be heard on grainy footage posted on social media.
Five policemen were wounded during the clash, with two of them confirmed dead in a Jerusalem hospital hours later.
The attackers were from the Arab Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm near the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli police officers who were shot and killed by the Palestinian gunmen have yet to be identified. Kamil Shnaan, 22, was the son of a former Israeli parliamentarian.
Israeli police said they had no comment.
Al-Aqsa, with its silver-colored dome and vast hall, is located on Temple Mount.
Netanyahu assured Abbas that Israel would take all necessary measures to ensure security at the holy place, and the status quo of the site would not change, the press service of Israeli prime minister reported.
One unnamed Israeli official responded to the Jordanian statement, telling Israeli TV that "instead of condemning the attack, Jordan chose to attack Israel, which is protecting worshipers and maintaining freedom of worship in the place". It says that "in accordance with security assessments to be held Sunday", the shrine would open gradually to worshippers and visitors.
"There is no reason to close the mosque for Friday prayers".
Hussein was later detained and taken into custody after he began to lead prayers out in the streets nearby.
The mufti, who is in charge of the institute, is the top authority on Muslim law in Jerusalem and among Muslim Palestinians.
Egypt expressed its concern about violent actions in the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement on Friday.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, adding: "This incident has the potential to ignite further violence".
Jordan, the custodian of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, has urged Israel to "immediately reopen" it, while the Arab League called its closure "dangerous".
During the same time, Israeli forces killed more than 254 Palestinians.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem, where the Old City and the holy compound are located, after the 1967 Middle East war and regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim not recognised internationally.
Jews are allowed to visit, but are banned from praying there to avoid provoking tensions. Leaders at the time agreed that the Temple Mount would be administered by an Islamic religious trust known as the Waqf.
