Israeli police shot dead three Palestinians who they claimed carried out an armed attack inside the flashpoint Al-Aqsa compound, resulting in the death of two police officers.
According to a statement by the Israeli police, the Palestinians opened fire at the Israeli officers injuring three policemen at the the Old City of Jerusalem's Lion's Gate (Bab Al-Asbat).
The Palestinian attackers fled the scene towards the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, and an exchange of fire took place between them and the Israeli police.
"Two police officers were critically injured and later died of their wounds in an Israeli hospital, while a third one was hurt by shrapnel and is out of danger," police said.
According to the police, the three Palestinians are identified as Mohammed Ahmad Jabarin, 29, Mohammad Hamed Jabarin,19, and Mohammad Ahmad Jabrin, 19, from the Arab city of Umm Al-Fahm in northern Israel.
Following the attack, Israeli police cleared the Al-Aqsa mosque and closed it for public.
Yoram Ha-Levy, Jerusalem police district commander said that Friday prayers will not be held at the Al-Aqsa mosque.
After the attack, the Israeli Police beefed up security, deploying hundreds of troops and erecting roadblocks at the entrances of Jerusalem's Old City, eyewitnesses said.
In a separate incident on Friday, a Palestinian young man was shot and killed by Israeli troops, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to a statement by Palestinian Health Ministry.
"Bara Hamamdeh, 18, was killed after a bullet fired by an Israeli sniper struck his chest during clashes with Israeli forces at the Al-Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem city," the ministry said.
Clashes had erupted between the Palestinian youths and Israeli Army after the latter raided the West Bank refugee camp on Friday morning.
