A Palestinian assailant was shot dead after attempting to stab Israeli police officers in Jerusalem's Old City, a police spokesperson said Friday afternoon.
According to a police statement, the attacker - a 50-year-old man from East Jerusalem - arrived at the Old City’s Council Gate on the northern side of the Western Wall when he launched himself at police officers. The cops opened fire in response, gravelly injuring him.
The scene of the attack at the Council Gate in Jerusalem's Old City
He was rushed to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus where he later succumbed to his wounds.
First responders at the scene said that one of the officers was reportedly slightly wounded in the leg by a ricocheting bullet. The 19-year-old was taken to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center for further care.
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The scene of the attack at the Council Gate in Jerusalem's Old City
(Photo: Magen David Adom)
The Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas praised that assailant and said that "this attack is a message to Israel that the Palestinians will not sit idly by while it is harming our prisoners," referring to new curbs Israel imposed on Palestinian security prisoners after this week's shocking jailbreak from Gilboa Prison.
The incident came amid heightened tensions and calls by Palestinian factions for a "Day of Rage" against Israel in support of six security prisoners who broke out of the high-level detention facility on Monday and four of whom still remain at large.
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Security forces arrive at the Council Gate in Jerusalem's Old City after the attack
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
However, Palestinian response to such calls was lower than initially feared.
As of 2pm Friday, about 650 Palestinians demonstrated in several locations across the West Bank, including Jenin, Hebron and Ramallah.
Palestinian protesters were also seen on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, near the scene of the attack, but there were no reports of clashes with security forces.